On the 27th, a fax threatening to plant explosives at three middle schools in Seoul was received, causing a commotion as students evacuated.
According to the police, the Seongdong Police Station in Seoul received reports on that day of a bomb threat fax received at two middle schools. The Jongno Police Station also received a report of a bomb threat fax at one middle school.
Police and firefighting authorities were dispatched to the scene to verify whether explosives had been planted, but found no unusual circumstances. The school took precautionary measures and sent students home.
Cases of police being dispatched due to false reports, such as bomb threat faxes, are on the rise. According to data received by Democratic Party of Korea member Yang Boo-nam's office from the Korean National Police Agency, the number rose from 4,235 cases in 2022 to 5,432 cases last year, an increase of 28.3%. By the end of July this year, 2,933 false reports of explosives and terrorism had been received.