LAHORE: At least six schools in various parts of the city were evacuated and closed for the day following a series of hoax calls about a bomb threat on Wednesday, police said.

The guards of two schools in Gulshan-i-Ravi ─ Government Girls' High School in G block and Saeeda Butt Private School ─ were alerted of a threat by a motorcyclist, after which the administration was informed and a call was made to 15 around 10:55am. The school was evacuated following the hoax, school sources said.

Government Boys High School in Chandni Chowk Sanda, Himayat-i-Islam school near Yateem Khana Chowk and two other schools in the Millat Park and Township areas were also alerted of threats, police officials confirmed.

Fear and panic spread following the hoaxes, with students trying to evacuate as swiftly as possible. Concerned parents also reached schools to pick their children up. The schools that received hoax calls were closed for the day.

Superintendent Police Iqbal Town Shaista Nadeem told Dawn, "Five or six calls were received [on 15] but no bomb was found. We even sent a Bomb Disposal Squad team to search them. We will identify the callers and arrest the people responsible."

Parents and students across the country have been edgy following the attack on Bacha Khan University in January, which brought back memories of the tragic Army Public School attack.