November 2025 continued the pattern of heightened alerts across the UK, with schools, transport hubs and busy town centres all facing disruption. From threatening phone calls to unexploded ordnance, the month showed how quickly a single report can trigger lockdowns, evacuations and large-scale emergency responses.
School Lockdown and Education Settings
Stourton High School – November 3
On the first day back after half term, Stourton High School was placed into lockdown following a threatening phone call. Pupils reportedly hid under tables while staff followed emergency procedures.
Manchester Evening News – Stourton High School Lockdown
Two schools in Rochdale – November 13
Two schools in Rochdale were put into lockdown after a man was reported to be making threats outside the premises, pupils remained inside classrooms until officers declared the area safe.
Manchester Evening News – Rochdale Schools Lockdown
Biddulph High School, Staffordshire – November 18
Biddulph High School and Sixth Form in Staffordshire went into lockdown after reports of a chemical spill on site. Emergency services, including hazmat teams, treated several people for exposure, with a number taken to hospital as a precaution.
ITV News / The Sun – Biddulph High Chemical Spill
Welsh primary school, Carmarthenshire – early November
A primary school in Carmarthenshire was closed and evacuated after threatening messages were posted online in the early hours.
Pembrokeshire Herald / WalesOnline – Carmarthenshire Primary Threats
Two primary schools in Manchester – November 13
Two primary schools in the Middleton area of Greater Manchester were placed into lockdown after local threats prompted a significant police response.
Manchester Evening News – Manchester Primary School Lockdowns
Howden School, East Yorkshire – November 14
Howden School in East Yorkshire went into lockdown after fears that someone with a firearm might be nearby. Students were kept in classrooms while police searched the area; no weapon was ultimately found and the lockdown was lifted once officers were satisfied there was no threat to the school community.
Examiner Live – Howden School Gun Fear
St John’s University, York – November 27
Buildings at St John’s University in York were evacuated after a bomb threat was received. Students and staff were moved out while police and campus security carried out checks. The threat was later assessed as non-credible, and the site reopened once the all-clear was given.
Torch – York University Bomb Threat
Transport Hubs and Retail Centres
London Bridge Station, London – November 3
One of London’s busiest rail interchanges, London Bridge Station, was evacuated for a short period after a man was reportedly seen behaving suspiciously on a train.
Evening Standard / Yahoo News – London Bridge Station Evacuation
Stockport Railway Station, Greater Manchester – November 5
Stockport railway station was evacuated following reports of a suspicious suitcase on the footbridge. A large cordon was put in place, trains were halted and passengers were kept on board services while bomb disposal teams assessed the item.
Travel and Tour World / The Sun – Stockport Station Bomb Scare
Merseyway Shopping Centre, Stockport – November 28
Merseyway Shopping Centre’s covered mall was taped off by police and temporarily closed after a serious medical incident inside the precinct.
Stockport Nub News – Merseyway Temporary Closure
Town Centres, Cafes and Police Stations
Edinburgh city-centre café – November 1
A busy café in Edinburgh city centre was evacuated after a “potential suspicious package” was discovered. Emergency services quickly cordoned off the surrounding streets while specialist officers examined the item. The package was later deemed safe, and the area was reopened.
The National / Yahoo News – Edinburgh Café Evacuation
Fareham town centre and police station, Hampshire – November 23
An unexploded World War Two bomb was handed in at Fareham Police Station, triggering a major response. Police imposed a 100-metre cordon around the station, evacuating nearby shops and part of the town centre.
ITV Meridian / The Portsmouth News / Yahoo News – Fareham Unexploded Bomb
Overview of November
While many of November’s incidents were precautionary or ultimately non-credible, each one carried real-world consequences: lessons disrupted, town centres cleared, commuters stranded and emergency services stretched.
Compared with October, November saw fewer school-based weapons scares, but more disruption linked to suspicious packages and unexploded ordnance. The month reinforced three recurring themes:
- Rapid escalation from single reports: A phone call, online threat or abandoned bag can trigger full lockdown or evacuation protocols.
- Communication pressure: Parents, commuters and local businesses often learned about incidents via social media before official updates were issued.
- Reliance on multi-agency response: Police, transport operators, local authorities and bomb disposal teams all played key roles in restoring normality.
As the year draws to a close, November 2025 underlines the importance of clear communication plans, robust lockdown procedures and public awareness around how false alarms and genuine threats are handled across the UK.
