False Report of "Nuclear Bomb Installed at Elementary School" Triggers Emergency Evacuation of 331 in Suwon

Police Conduct 100-Minute Search
No Explosives Found

A false report threatening to blow up an elementary school in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, caused a major response from police and firefighters. Photo by Asia Economy

A false report threatening to blow up an elementary school located in Gwonseon District, Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, led to a large-scale response from police and firefighters.

According to the Suwon Gwonseon Police Station, at around 11:22 a.m. on September 16, a post stating "A nuclear bomb has been installed at ○○ Elementary School" was uploaded to the 119 Safety Report Center website. Upon receiving the report, the fire authorities requested a joint response from the police and also notified the military unit.

Police and fire authorities evacuated all 331 people inside the school, including 282 students, 44 faculty members, and 5 visitors, to the playground. They then searched the building for about an hour and 40 minutes but found no explosives or suspicious items. The school resumed afternoon classes as usual.

The police are tracking down the person who made the false report and are investigating whether any laws were violated.