Hoax Bomb Threats Evacuate Thousands of Italian Schools
Thousands of Italian schools evacuated after hoax bomb threats. Authorities confirm no real danger.
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Thousands of Italian schools were evacuated on Wednesday after receiving a hoax bomb threat via email, according to public broadcaster Rai. Over 6,300 education centers received the threatening message, prompting emergency responses across the country. Despite the alarming nature of the email, Italian authorities confirmed there was no real threat, and no explosives were found during police inspections.
Hoax Email Claims Explosives and Genocide
The threatening email, reportedly sent from Taiwanese email addresses, claimed an anonymous individual named ‘Mikhail Andropov’ from the ‘Vilayat’ of ‘Misoginistan’ had planted a powerful explosive device in Italian schools. The email threatened the ‘annihilation’ and ‘genocide’ of Italians, with additional claims that a bomb had been placed in the Italian Prime Minister’s car and that survivors would be killed with knives.
Authorities Confirm No Real Danger
Italian Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara stated there was a ‘non-existent risk’ from the hoax email, while Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni confirmed that law enforcement searched every evacuated classroom but found nothing. Meloni emphasized that the messages were not meant to cause harm but to instill fear and chaos.
Similar Threats Across Europe
The BBC reported that over 700 schools in Scotland and Northern Ireland also received similar threats, with the same wording as the Italian emails. Scottish Education Secretary Mairi McAllan and Northern Ireland officials noted there was no public risk, though schools were advised to remain open unless instructed otherwise by police.
Investigations and International Cooperation
Investigators believe the author may have used phished Taiwanese email addresses, with at least one linked to a Taiwanese university. Italian authorities are working with European counterparts to identify those behind the hoaxes. Meloni highlighted that while no concrete threat was found, the government is deploying all tools to minimize the impact of such attacks.
Resumption of School Activities
Following the incident, school activities resumed normally across Italy on Thursday morning. Meloni acknowledged the fear and anxiety experienced by families and praised the calm response of school administrators, teachers, and staff. She stressed that the government will not let an anonymous email dictate the school calendar.
Source: Breitbart
