At least 300 schools across Italy were evacuated today after bomb threat emails went out that triggered security alerts throughout the country.
The threatening messages also included a direct threat against Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and raised fears about safety of schools and political leadership in Italy.
Police investigations and security checks were carried out at schools in several Italian cities after the incident; students and teachers were moved to safer locations as authorities responded to alerts.
Bomb threat emails target schools across Italy. Bomb threats have been sent via email to dozens of schools across Italy, Italian police said today. “Bomb threats against schools have been sent in Italy,” Italian police spokesman Daniele Scaramella told AFP.
The threatening email was sent to educational institutions in different parts of Italy. It was said to have claimed that explosive devices had been placed inside schools and threatened a major attack against Italians.
The email was signed by Mikhail Andropov who said he was the leader of a group called Vilayat of Misoginistan.
The message contained disturbing threats against students, school employees and the Italian population as a whole. It also claimed that explosives had been placed inside plastic bags in school buildings.
When they received the emails, school officials called police immediately. Some schools suspended regular classes and evacuated students as a precaution.
Italian Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara said at least 300 schools had been affected by bomb alerts but added that the number could rise as more institutions reported receiving the threatening messages.
Giorgia Meloni Also Named in the Threat
The incident took a more serious turn when the threatening email contained a reference to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
The sender said in Italian media reports that a bomb had been planted inside the engine of the Prime Minister’s car. That threat gave another dimension to the incident and raised questions about the security of the country’s political leadership.
However, the claims made in the email have not been independently verified. Authorities are investigating where the threats came from and whether they are credible.
Police Launch Investigation
Italian police have opened an investigation into the threats. Security agencies are checking institutions affected by the attacks to see if any explosives are actually present.
Police are also looking into where the emails came from and who sent them. The fact that he used a name associated with other threats has given investigators extra attention.
Education Minister Valditara said the alerts were hoaxes but security measures were needed to protect students and staff.
Growing Concerns Over Threats Across Europe
The incident follows a wave of threatening communications targeting institutions across Europe. Bomb threats have been issued in recent days against flights, media organisations and other public infrastructure.
Threatening emails were also sent to newsrooms in Ireland and Bulgaria. Repeated incidents have led European authorities to worry about coordinated disruption and attempts to create anxiety among the public.
Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said the threats were “an apparent attempt to sow fear and uncertainty.” But he cautioned against “jumping immediately” to conclusions that they were linked to foreign governments or hostile organisations.
For now Italian authorities are investigating the incident and schools and security agencies are still working on public safety. It has shown once again that European countries struggle to cope with mass digital threats against public institutions.
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