Armed police officers, some carrying semi-automatic machine guns, surrounded two inner-city high schools in Cardiff following a chilling 'live chat' threat of a weaponised attack targeting pupils and staff. The major security operation led to the immediate closure of both Llanishen High School and Eastern High School, with parents of more than 2,200 children instructed to keep them at home while the threat was actively investigated.
Major Anti-Terrorist Style Operation Launched
South Wales Police initiated a significant anti-terrorist style response after receiving the alarming information via a live chat message at 8.30pm on Sunday evening. The specific intelligence indicated that an individual planned to attend the schools while in possession of weapons. Officers were seen patrolling the grounds of the two institutions, which are located approximately six miles apart in the Welsh capital.
School Closures for Safety
Superintendent Mark Kavanagh confirmed that the decision to close the schools was made in consultation with Cardiff Council. 'We have come to the decision, with support from Cardiff Council to keep these schools closed on Monday in order to avoid risk, following a report which was made to police on Sunday evening,' he stated. 'This decision was not taken lightly but was made with the safety of pupils, staff and the wider school communities in mind.'
Parents received an email in the early hours of Monday morning informing them of the closures. However, some parents did not see the notification, leading to children arriving at the school gates only to be turned away and told to return directly home. The schools remained deserted throughout the day, with a visible police presence at every entrance.
Community Reaction and Concerns
A mother living near Eastern High School in the Trowbridge suburb described the scene: 'To start with, the police didn't say what the threat was, but when you see police walking around with machine guns you know it's something serious. Now we know that someone was turning up with weapons they made the right decision to close the schools.'
Some parents criticised the initial police communication as being too vague, lacking specific details about the nature of the threat. The police spokesperson addressed these concerns, stating: 'We understand this is causing concern for parents and the community. It is important that we fully assess the information and ensure appropriate safeguarding measures are in place.'
Investigation and Background Context
Authorities have not revealed whether the individual behind the threat is a current or former student of either school, and no arrests are believed to have been made at this stage. The police spokesperson emphasised: 'At this time, there is no evidence or report of any persons attending either school posing a threat. An increased policing presence will be seen in the area while the investigation and searches continue.'
Both schools are situated in areas described as peaceful and family-friendly. Llanishen High School is set in a 'peaceful, family-friendly neighbourhood', while Eastern High School in Trowbridge is noted as 'safe and pleasant'.
Connection to Social Media Trends
Interestingly, both high schools were previously named in a TikTok craze known as 'Red v Blue School Wars', which promoted fictional battles between pupils from different urban areas. A poster circulated online two weeks ago urged students in years 7 to 11 to participate with the slogan 'Be Violent', accompanied by images of a geometry compass, ruler, and steel comb suggested as potential weapons.
School authorities had previously advised pupils to ignore such social media posts on platforms like TikTok and Snapchat and to attend lessons as normal. A parent from Llanishen High commented: 'At first I thought it was something to do with that but this looks like someone acting alone. I don't get how one individual could threaten two schools a 15-minute drive from each other. But the police have been at every entrance since before daybreak so they are keeping our kids safe.'
The investigation remains ongoing as police work to assess the credibility and origin of the live chat threat, with the primary focus firmly on ensuring the safety and security of the school communities involved.
