Hundreds of schools across Italy were evacuated on Wednesday following a wave of bomb threats sent to educational institutions, while similar threatening messages were reported in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
The threats triggered widespread concern among school authorities, parents and students, although officials in the affected countries said there was no evidence of an immediate or credible danger.
Italy appeared to be the hardest hit, with the country's Education Ministry confirming that threatening emails had been received by more than 6,300 schools. Hundreds of institutions were evacuated as a precaution, disrupting lessons in several cities.
Schools in Rome, Milan, Naples, Palermo and Bologna were among those affected. However, authorities had not reported finding explosives or suspicious devices at the affected locations.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said there was no concrete indication of danger, describing the threats as seemingly intended to generate alarm and anxiety.
She was expected to meet with intelligence officials and cybersecurity experts as authorities investigated the incidents.
Scotland and Ireland Also Receive Threats
The wave of threatening messages extended beyond Italy, affecting schools in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
In Scotland, police said approximately 1,000 schools had received threatening communications, with the number rising from an initial estimate of 470. Some schools, particularly in Edinburgh, were briefly evacuated while officers assessed the situation.
Police subsequently said there was no credible threat to schools.
In Northern Ireland, more than 300 schools received threatening emails. Authorities advised schools to remain open unless instructed otherwise by the police.
Schools in the Republic of Ireland also received threatening communications, but the Gardaí said there was no need for evacuations after assessing the messages.
Authorities Investigate Origin of Messages
Investigations were ongoing across the affected countries, with authorities yet to establish who was responsible for sending the emails or whether the incidents were coordinated.
In Northern Ireland, officials indicated that the threatening communication originated outside the United Kingdom.
Italian media also reported the circulation of an email purportedly sent in the name of an extremist group. However, there was no official confirmation establishing the identity of the sender or linking the messages to any particular organisation.
Authorities have not publicly attributed the threats to any government or confirmed claims of foreign involvement.
The incidents have nevertheless raised concerns about the potential use of threatening communications to disrupt public institutions and create widespread fear.
Fresh Security Concerns Across Europe
The school threats came days after a separate wave of false bomb alerts disrupted commercial flights across Europe, affecting more than 20 flights.
The aviation incidents had already raised concerns about the vulnerability of public transport and critical services to coordinated hoaxes and security threats.
Although the school and aviation incidents have occurred within a relatively short period, authorities have not established a connection between them.
For now, investigations remain focused on identifying those behind the threatening messages, while schools and security agencies across the affected countries continue to assess potential risks.
