Thousands of European schools targeted by fake bomb threats

Thousands of schools in Italy, Ireland and the UK received emailed bomb threats on Wednesday, forcing some to evacuate students from campus.

It follows a similar email sent to schools last month, and a wave of fake threats against flights last week.

The recent incidents are part of a wider run of disruption across Europe, targeting airlines, newsrooms, supermarkets and blood banks.

Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said there was no immediate danger, and that “whoever did this wanted a nation that was paralyzed and afraid.”

Background

In January 2025, more than 260 schools in Hungary received emailed threats.

The latest run began on 19 October of this year, when Northern Ireland police said more than 300 schools received an identical message.

Schools in Scotland, Hungary and Serbia were also targeted.

In Hungary, emails to local media claimed bombs had been planted at more than 70 schools.

The country’s Interior Minister said the threats “proved to be unfounded”.

Latest

On Wednesday, there was another series of emails across Europe and the UK.

Italy’s Education Ministry said an email to more than 6,300 schools threatened a “genocide” of Italians, and said there was a bomb on campus.

Police said hundreds of schools were evacuated, and parents rushed to collect their kids.

Schools in Northern Ireland, Scotland, and the Republic of Ireland got similar messages.

Flights

In recent weeks, fake threats have targeted passenger flights.

Across 2, 3 and 5 November, more than 30 flights were affected by bomb threats.

Some were diverted, searched or escorted by fighter jets.

Nothing dangerous was found on any plane.

In Sydney, armed AFP officers met a flight from Tokyo after a threat was sent to the airport, according to the ABC.

Other attacks

Last week, newsrooms in Ireland and Bulgaria received emailed bomb threats.

Ireland’s public broadcaster RTÉ evacuated one of its offices.

There have also been cyberattacks on supermarkets.

In mid-October, hackers pushed fridge temperatures up to 50°C at hundreds of French supermarkets, sparking fires and spoiling food.

Three French blood banks were also targeted in November, but officials said no blood products were damaged.

Responsibility

No government has formally blamed anyone for the bomb threats, and the emails have carried different names.

The October school emails were signed “Allahu Akbar,” an Arabic phrase meaning “God is great,” according to Northern Ireland’s Education Minister.

The latest Italian school emails were signed “Mikhail Andropov, leader of the Vilayat of Misoginistan”.

Investigations are ongoing.