Cybercrime Squad detectives have arrested a teenage boy over a copycat threat, as investigations continue into threatening emails received by schools across NSW last week.
On Tuesday (27 October 2020), more than 20 high schools across Sydney received an anonymous email which outlined threats toward the school.
The following day (Wednesday 28 October 2020), more than 10 high schools in regional NSW received a similar email.
On Thursday (29 October 2020), a single threat was received by a North Sydney school, which was inconsistent with those received earlier in the week.
Police were contacted and the schools enacted their emergency response plans, which included evacuations, causing significant disruptions to students and staff members.
Local officers, assisted by specialist police, conducted extensive searches at each of the schools, and no items of interest were located.
Detectives from the Cybercrime Squad established Strike Force Rolum to investigate the circumstances and origins of the emails.
Following extensive inquiries, Cybercrime Squad detectives executed a search warrant at a Southern Sydney home about 7am today (Wednesday 4 November 2020).
A computer and mobile phone were seized and will undergo further examination.
A teenage boy was arrested and taken to Kogarah Police Station, where charges relating to the incident at North Sydney are expected to be laid.
Investigations into the circumstances and origins of the other email threats, which are not believed to be linked to the North Sydney incident, are continuing.
As investigations continue, police are reminding the community that sending threatening emails is a serious criminal offence.
