Bomb hoax forces evacuation at Xinmin Secondary School

Students and staff at Xinmin Secondary School in Hougang were evacuated shortly before 9am on Thursday, August 13, after authorities received a bomb threat. The Singapore Police Force (SPF) was alerted to the situation around 8.20am and swiftly responded to the school. A school notification sent to parents revealed that the evacuation began at approximately 8.30am, following the alert. No suspicious items were discovered during a comprehensive inspection of the campus, and all students and staff were safely accounted for. Regular classes resumed later that day. According to reports, the evacuation process was initiated just minutes after the initial alert. The school’s notification indicated that the threat was communicated to them, prompting immediate action. The SPF confirmed that they conducted a thorough search of the premises and found nothing unusual. The school’s vice-principal, Mr Tan Kok Kwang, was present at the scene and stated that the institution would not provide further comments at that time, as security officers remained on site. Several students described the experience as unexpected and alarming. One Secondary 4 student recounted hearing the principal’s announcement over the PA system at 8.30am, informing everyone of the evacuation due to a bomb threat. She noted that some students were still taking exams when the alert was made, leaving many caught off guard. Parents expressed concern upon learning of the incident. Mr Cheng, whose child attends the school, described himself as “shocked” to receive the notification about the bomb threat. He emphasized his deep worry for his child’s safety and voiced apprehension about the possibility of such an occurrence recurring. Another parent, Mr Cho, shared a similar sentiment, expressing surprise at the news. He learned of the incident through the Parents Gateway app, an educational ministry-developed platform for communication between schools and families. He also received updates via the school’s WhatsApp group. Despite the initial alarm, Mr Cho acknowledged that the school effectively calmed the community by providing timely updates confirming that everything was under control. The police have classified the incident as a case of communicating false information of a harmful nature. Under Singapore law, offenders can face up to seven years in prison, a fine of up to S$50,000, or both. Authorities reiterated their commitment to addressing such threats seriously. This follows a similar incident at Evergreen Secondary School in Woodlands four years ago, where a false bomb threat led to an evacuation. At that time, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) stressed the importance of treating all security threats with gravity, even if they proved to be unfounded. The incident has prompted inquiries into how the threat was conveyed to the school and how long the disruption lasted. While the exact method of communication remains unclear, the school’s response was swift and effective. The Parents Gateway app played a key role in disseminating information to parents, helping to alleviate anxiety. The school has not yet released additional details regarding the incident, and further clarification is expected from the Ministry of Education (MOE). As investigations continue, officials remain focused on ensuring the safety of students and maintaining public confidence in institutional preparedness.