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Hundreds of schools across Italy were evacuated Wednesday after receiving bomb threats by email, prompting security checks and a police investigation as officials said the alerts appeared to be hoaxes.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said there was no “concrete danger” and called a government meeting after 312 schools received threats, according to Italian media.
Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara told La7 television that around 300 alerts had been recorded and said the large number of schools affected suggested the threats lacked credibility.
The email claimed that explosive devices had been placed in school buildings and also contained an explicit threat against Meloni.
According to a copy seen by Reuters, it was signed “Mikhail Andropov, leader of the Vilayat of Misoginistan.” The same purported author claimed responsibility for similar bomb threats sent to newsrooms in Ireland and Bulgaria last week.
Police are investigating the origin of the messages, while authorities carry out security checks to protect students and staff.
A police spokesperson told CNN that the exact number of affected schools remained unclear because hundreds received the emails and evacuation decisions were made locally.
Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said he would brief parliament and described the alerts as part of a strategy aimed at creating fear and concern.
Some schools in the United Kingdom also received threatening emails Wednesday.
Police Scotland said it was treating the messages as hoaxes, while police in Northern Ireland investigated an email sent to several schools. The Education Authority there said it was unaware of evidence of a credible threat.
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