WELLINGTON, June 23 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand police said on Tuesday they are investigating a series of emailed threats against schools and other institutions nationwide, which had prompted evacuations and lockdowns.
"At this stage, police perceive the threats to be low risk," Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin of Auckland City Criminal Investigation Branch said in a statement.
Baldwin said specialist cybercrime investigators, supported by staff in other districts, were working to identify the source of the emails.
The threats, sent on Tuesday morning, led multiple schools and campuses to evacuate or enter lockdown as a precaution. Several media organizations and public institutions also reported receiving similar messages.
Police Minister Mark Mitchell said the threats were being treated seriously, although initial indications suggested they could be a hoax intended to cause disruption. He added there was no confirmed evidence that the emails originated overseas.
Emergency procedures were activated at affected sites, with police attending and, in several cases, clearing locations to resume normal operations.
"We were one of the first to receive the threat," Whangaparaoa School Principal Kevin Cronin said in a message on the school website, noting the school was closed for the day.
"Even though we doubt the validity of the threat, we feel our role is to make sure that our children and staff are safe," he told Radio New Zealand. ■
