Redbridge Borough Police has provided an update after several local schools in East London were placed on lockdown following threatening email messages. In a statement shared on social media, the local police force confirmed that a male suspect has been identified, apprehended, and arrested for sending “malicious communications.” Authorities have characterized the incident as isolated, assuring the public that no outstanding suspects are at large.
Redbridge MPS took to Twitter to inform the community: “You may have been made aware of a threatening email sent to schools yesterday. We can confirm that a male has been identified, located, and arrested for malicious communications and taken to a London police station. This is an isolated incident with no outstanding suspects.”
The precautionary lockdown measures were implemented on Wednesday, July 17 at Redbridge Primary School and Cranbrook Primary School, both located in Ilford. Local police patrols were established in the area in response to the credible threat. Parents of students at these schools received emails emphasizing the importance of pupil and staff safety.
Redbridge Primary School communicated to parents: “The school received a credible threat today, and under the police and local authority advice, we applied our lockdown procedures to ensure the safety of our children and staff.
As a result of the lockdown, after-school clubs and a scheduled performance by Year 6 students were cancelled. Parents arriving to collect their children at Cranbrook Primary School were informed to expect a police presence and senior staff members at the gates.
It is important to note that the Metropolitan Police clarified that they did not initiate the lockdown measures, stating that they were aware of the threatening email sent to a school in Redbridge. They swiftly launched an investigation into the matter, and according to their assessment, it was deemed unnecessary for the school to remain in lockdown.
The arrest of the male suspect signifies progress in the ongoing investigation, providing reassurance to the affected schools and the wider community. The authorities continue to prioritize the safety and well-being of students, staff, and parents and are working diligently to ensure that appropriate measures are in place to prevent any further disruptions or threats to educational institutions.
Updates on the investigation may be forthcoming as additional information becomes available. The Metropolitan Police urges anyone with relevant details regarding this incident to come forward and assist with their ongoing inquiries.
