Bomb threats hit schools across multiple European countries for days, over 9,000 schools affected in Italy in two days

A wave of bomb threats targeting schools has swept across multiple European countries over consecutive days. After Italy, the UK, and Ireland, the scope has further expanded to France. Authorities in various places conducted searches and investigations and found no explosives, concluding that there is no actual security risk.

For two consecutive days, a large number of schools in Italy received bomb threat emails. On Thursday, more than 3,700 schools received such messages, with 77 requiring emergency evacuation. According to authorities, the emails were similar to those from the previous day (when over 6,000 schools were affected and fully evacuated) and contained wording targeting Prime Minister Meloni. To avoid excessive panic, Meloni convened an emergency meeting to discuss countermeasures and issued new guidelines stipulating that schools do not need to fully evacuate before concrete evidence is obtained.

The threats also spread to France, where at least three schools in Marseille, Maurez, and Laon required emergency evacuation. Local media cited investigations saying authorities have ruled out the possibility of a large-scale attack. In addition, over a thousand schools in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Ireland received similar threats the day before, which were assessed to pose no real danger. There is widespread suspicion that the string of incidents is linked to Russia, but the Russian Embassy in Italy issued a statement denying involvement and expressing willingness to assist Italian authorities in tracing the perpetrators.

In response to the series of incidents, French President Macron, attending the European Political Community summit in Ireland, said the identity of the perpetrators is not yet known and it is too early to determine whether foreign forces are involved. He revealed that leaders of more than 40 European countries at the summit have discussed the recent spate of cyberattacks and security incidents. Host Irish Prime Minister Martin strongly condemned the incidents, saying they are aimed at creating social chaos and division and attempting to undermine public confidence in democratic institutions, but he stressed that the perpetrators' plans will never succeed.

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