After a bomb threat against two schools in Mönchengladbach, the police identified a 15-year-old suspect. He is said to have sent threatening letters to the schools from abroad, the police said in Mönchengladbach on Saturday.

On Thursday, around 800 students from the elementary and comprehensive schools in the Hardt district were taken out of the buildings after the threat. Even at this point, the police had emphasized that there was no danger to people. Investigators had searched the schools with the help of service dogs, but found no suspicious items.

The youth is suspected of having sent several emails threatening criminal offenses to the Hardt community elementary school, the police said. According to the findings of the investigators, the aim of the action was that the school was canceled.

The police tracked down the suspected youth through two girls aged 12 and 13 who also attend the school. The 13-year-old had informed a teacher that he might have clues as to who made the threats. According to the police, the two students were not involved in the threats.