Police have swooped on a teenager who allegedly made a number of bomb threats that shut down dozens schools across three states.
The hoax calls were believed to have been made over the phone and email between May 2016 and April 2017.
A 17-year-old Victorian boy was yesterday charged with 74 separate offences as part of a joint operation between police in Victoria, NSW and South Australia.
His charges include nine counts of making a bomb hoax in Victoria, 13 counts of using a carriage service to make a hoax threat in NSW and 49 counts of the same charge in South Australia.
Detectives also seized a number of electronic devices belonging to him.
Schools across Australia were evacuated in December last year after several threatening phone calls were made warning of an explosive device and threats of injury in November.
Schools in Traralgon, Ballarat, Bendigo and Horsham in Victoria were affected, while primary schools, senior schools and TAFE colleges in Adelaide subsequently evacuated in February after a bomb threat was issued via email.
It is unclear whether the boy’s charges relate to these specific incidents.
The 17-year-old appeared in the Children’s Court of Victoria yesterday and was released on bail until June 26.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.