Auckland’s Western Springs College reopens after bomb scare, two students allegedly behind the threat

• A larger inner-city college has reopened after receiving a bomb threat overnight.
• Western Springs College says the threat originated on social media.
• It comes after two South Auckland Islamic schools were forced into lockdown after they received offshore email threats.

Students at a central Auckland secondary school are being welcomed in after previously being told to stay away because of a bomb threat.

Western Springs College posted on its Facebook page that lessons would resume for Year 9, 10 and 11 students after 11am.

Earlier, a Herald photographer at the scene said staff were speaking to students on the field through a microphone and speaker, saying they had identified the two people who sent the threats and police were on their way to their homes.

“As a precaution, the school will remain closed until we receive clearance from the police that the buildings are safe to enter.”

Students who arrived for their derived grade exams gathered on the school field.

The college urged Year 9 and 10 students to remain home and not come to class.

A police spokesperson said they found nothing “untoward” and wanted to reassure the public there was no “credible threat”.

“There will be a police presence at the school today for reassurance purposes.”

Students gather outside Western Springs College after a bomb threat. Photo / Ben Dickens

A spokesperson for neighbouring school Pasadena Intermediate said it had not been affected by the threat.

In March, Western Springs College students were dismissed at 1.30pm after a student threatened another with a bomb.

The college later said nothing was found and the school was deemed safe to occupy.

A parent of a Western Springs College student was told by his son they were told to leave early “because of a bomb threat”.

Principal Ivan Davis told the Herald a student allegedly threatened another with a bomb.

Last week, two South Auckland Islamic schools were sent into lockdown after they received violent emails showing a man with a gun.

After receiving an offshore video threat, Al-Madinah School and Zayed College for Girls in Westney Rd, Māngere, were forced to close last Monday.

Police were on the scene last week after an email of a concerning nature was sent to staff at Al-Madinah School in Māngere. Photo / Dean Purcell

Zayed College For Girls shared on social media that it believed the video “originated from the dark web” and preliminary investigations suggest it was sent from overseas.

“Tracing the original source may take several weeks, but it is considered a serious, ongoing investigation.”

Al-Madinah senior staff member Amjad Ali told RNZ a video was sent to the school’s principal at 11 on Sunday night.

He said the video featured a man showing guns in a car and randomly shooting.

It wasn’t filmed at the school, but police recommended going into lockdown.

Rachel Maher is an Auckland-based reporter who covers breaking news. She has worked for the Herald since 2022.

Sign up to The Daily H, a free newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.