Hoax bomber who threatened Birmingham school faces jail

A man who emailed MI5 falsely claiming that a bomb was planted in a Birmingham school has been warned he faces jail.

Prince Albert Junior and Infant School, in Aston, was evacuated after Ghulam Kibria sent the email to the security services in November last year.

Kibria, 33, from Bradford, West Yorkshire, pleaded guilty at Birmingham Magistrates' Court to making a hoax bomb report.

He is due to be sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court next month.

It's hard to imagine the extent of the damage that you have caused by your actions”

The court heard the email to MI5 stated: "There is a bomb planted in Prince Albert Junior and Infant School in Aston. There is nothing you can do - we can strike any time, anywhere."

It led to more than 800 staff and pupils being evacuated and nearby roads were closed.

Security officials took the message, which included the name of Kibria's ex-wife, as a "clear and immediate threat", the court heard.

A laptop belonging to Kibria, of Rugby Place, Lidget Green, was later seized by police and a copy of the email was found on the hard drive.

District judge Jack McGarva committed him to Crown court after ruling the maximum six-month sentence available to him was "clearly inadequate".

He said: "This is a very serious matter.

"I bear in mind the effect of your actions on teachers at the school, the children of the school - who are aged between three and 11 - and the parents of those children.

"It's hard to imagine the extent of the damage that you have caused by your actions."

Defence solicitor Reyaz Ali told the court that his client suffered from mental health issues and had been accompanied to the court by a social worker.

Kibria was granted unconditional bail.