Up to seven NSW schools are currently in lockdown after they received simultaneous bomb threats today.
A Department of Education spokesman confirmed threats had been received by a number of public schools.
“The Department of Education is working closely with NSW Police after several schools received threats this morning,” the spokesman said.
“Each school is taking precautionary measures to ensure the safety of its students and no students are in danger.
“Police are attending at each location also as a precaution. Concerned parents can contact their child’s school.”

The schools current affected are Penrith High School, Woolooware High School in the Sutherland Shire, Mona Vale Primary and St Monica’s Catholic Primary School in Richmond.

Mona Vale Primary parents were alerted about the bomb threat after the school shared the news via text message.
Lake Illawarra High School was also evacuated after a bomb threat which was then followed with police sweeping the school looking for any suspicious items. Following the search, students were then allowed to return to class.

Threatening calls have also been received by schools in Victoria with police evacuating students as a precautionary measure. The names of the Victorian schools had not been named at the time of this article.
“Victoria Police is aware a number of Victorian schools have received a threatening phone call today,” a spokeswoman has said.
“The schools are being evacuated as a precaution. We are aware a number of other schools in other states and countries have recevied similar phone calls over in the past 24 hours.”

NSW police have released this statement via social media:
“Police are aware of numerous threats made to schools in the Metropolitan and Southern Regions,” the statement read.
“Investigations are continuing, and police are liaising with the Department of Education.
“Police are warning that making such threats is a serious criminal offence and every effort will be made to identify the person or persons responsible.”

Photos courtesy of News Corp.