Educational institutions across Italy faced a wave of bomb threats on Wednesday, leading to the evacuation of more than 300 schools. While the Times of India reported that over 6,000 schools across the country received the threatening emails, Italian Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara confirmed to the La7 television channel that at least 300 institutions were evacuated, noting that the final count could increase.
The emails contained identical warnings, including claims of a planned "genocide against the Italians" and assertions that explosive devices had been placed in school buildings. According to a government source cited by the Times of India, the messages were signed by a sender identifying as “Mikhail Andropov, leader of the Vilayat of Misoginistan.” The emails further alleged that a bomb had been planted in the engine of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s car. Prime Minister Meloni stated on Wednesday that there is no indication of any concrete danger.
Schools in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Ireland also reported receiving similar threatening messages. Unlike the mass evacuations in Italy, authorities in these regions largely maintained that the threats were not credible. The Northern Ireland Education Authority advised schools to remain open, while Police Scotland stated it is treating the messages as hoaxes and did not advise evacuations. Irish police confirmed they were aware of a "generic communication" sent to several educational institutions.
Minister Valditara suggested that the threats are likely part of a coordinated cyberattack rather than a genuine security risk, stating there is "no need for alarmism." Italian police have launched an investigation into the incidents. This disruption follows a similar series of hoax emails sent to over 270 Italian schools on November 2.
Key facts
- Over 6,000 schools in Italy received the email threats, with at least 300 schools undergoing evacuations.
- The emails claimed a remote-detonated explosive device was hidden within school buildings.
- The sender used the pseudonym “Mikhail Andropov,” a name recently linked to threats against European television broadcasters.
- Police in Scotland and Northern Ireland are treating the messages as hoaxes.
- This incident follows a previous barrage of hoax emails sent to 270 Italian schools on November 2.
Why it matters
The wave of threats has caused widespread disruption to classes across Italy, forcing students and staff to move to safety while police conducted security sweeps of school premises. Authorities are currently investigating whether these school alerts are connected to a broader pattern of hybrid warfare in Europe, which has recently included false threats against aircraft and cyberattacks on supermarket refrigeration systems.
Background
Recent months have seen a rise in security incidents across Europe targeting various sectors, including air traffic, TV broadcasters, and supermarkets. In October, hundreds of supermarkets in France suffered from cyberattacks where hackers manipulated refrigeration temperatures, with similar attacks recently reported in Germany, Romania, and the UK.
Source: Al Jazeera, Times of India
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