Russian Twitter group claim 'we made bomb hoax calls to six schools'

Bristnall Hall Academy in Oldbury is one of the school's that has been affected Credit: ITV Central

A Russian Twitter group has claimed responsibility for a series of false bomb threats against schools in Birmingham and the Black Country.

The group, which uses an email address with a Russian domain name, says it was behind yesterday’s threats to six schools across the region.

They warn that they intend to cause “mayhem”.

Similar threats led to the evacuation of four schools in London, four in Cornwall and six in Paris.

Calls were made in quick succession at around 9am yesterday.

West Midlands Police said they were investigating the threats, which they said “mirrored” hoax calls made to four Black Country schools last week which saw hundreds of pupils sent home.

However, the profile for @Ev4cuati0nSquad, which has now been suspended, claimed to be able to “divert the police away from a crime you’re going to commit”.

The profile picture showed Russian president Vladimir Putin, and one tweet read: “We support the regime of Bashar al-Assad”.

All six schools made the decision to close Credit: ITV Central

The six West Midlands schools affected were:

  • Oldbury Academy in Pound Road, Oldbury

  • Holly Lodge High in Holly Lane, Smethwick

  • Bristnall Hall Academy in Bristnall Hall Lane, Oldbury

  • George Salter Academy in Davey Road, West Bromwich

  • Earls High School in Furnace Lane, Halesowen

  • Four Dwellings Academy, in Dwellings Lane, Quinton

Anyone with information can call police on 101 or Crime-stoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.