Parents have kept their children off school today following an alleged ‘bomb threat’ against a high school in East Kilbride.
It is understood Calderglen High was threatened with what police described as a “malicious communication” on Monday morning.
An anonymous account on X claimed to have planted explosives at the South Lanarkshire school and also made similar threats to target Duncanrig Secondary in the town.
In a statement released today, police say they have made extensive searches of the area and deployed sniffer dogs trained to find explosives but “nothing of concern” was found.
They warned that hoax threats were a criminal offence and moved to reassure the public that they were hunting the individual responsible.
Parents claim they have had no communication from the schools regarding the incident and some have taken the precaution to keep their children at home.
One parent said: “If this has been going on from Monday why have parents not been advised by the school, Police Scotland or the council!
“You’re asking us to put our children at risk with no communication! It’s extremely worrying that this has been going on for two days and only now it’s publicly out the there on social media the parents find out!”
Another posted: “Parents should not be hearing about this for the first time via Facebook. Schools should have been in contact before now to update on the situation as a whole, advising of precautionary measures that should now be in place. Not good enough.”
One parent wrote: “I’m not sending my child in. Taking no chances especially with no school communication.”
Chief Inspector Paul Doyle said: “We are investigating what is believed to be a malicious communication sent to a high school in East Kilbride on the morning of Monday, 7 September, 2026.
“There has been subsequent online messaging regarding this, which is also being investigated.
“I want to reassure the public, we’ve carried out thorough searches of the area with specialist resources, including an explosives search dog, and nothing of concern was discovered. Officers will continue to have an increased presence in the area and anyone with concerns can speak to them or call us on 101.
“I want to be clear: making hoax threats is a criminal offence and we’re doing all we can to trace the person responsible.”
The council’s Executive Director of Education Resources, Lyndsay McRoberts, and Chief Inspector Paul Doyle from Police Scotland, said: “We are aware of the malicious communication sent to a high school in East Kilbride and subsequent messages on social media.
“The council has been working closely with Police Scotland who are investigating, and there has also been thorough searches of the area with specialist resources, including an explosives search dog, and nothing of concern was discovered.
“We would like to reassure parents and pupils that schools remain open.
“We would reiterate that making hoax threats is a criminal offence and police are doing all they can to trace the person responsible.”
South Lanarkshire Councillor David Watson commented: “I have received the following information from Police Scotland this morning.
“I expect you will be aware of online posts relating to a recent bomb hoax at Calderglen and Duncanrig High School. As such, I wanted to contact you and provide some reassurance for you and local constituents.
“We are treating the enquiry as malicious and without credibility whilst recognising the seriousness of it and the impact this will have on the local community. An investigation is underway and I will update on its progress in due course. In the meantime, I would ask that you provide this reassurance to any constituents who may contact you direct.”