Thousands of schools across Italy were thrown into chaos on Wednesday as a wave of bomb threats—later confirmed as hoaxes—forced mass evacuations. Authorities reported that approximately 6,300 educational institutions received identical threatening emails, prompting emergency responses before classes resumed normally the following day.
Mass Disruption from Anonymous Threats
Italian broadcaster Rai first reported that the threats were sent in the early morning hours, just as students and staff were arriving. The message, signed by a self-proclaimed ‘Mikhail Andropov’ from ‘Misoginistan,’ claimed explosives had been planted inside school buildings with remote detonators. The email included graphic descriptions of intended violence, warning that survivors would be ‘finished off with knives.’
While many schools initiated evacuations, police sweeps uncovered no explosives. Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara assured the public there had been ‘no real risk’ but acknowledged a troubling trend of similar hoaxes across Europe.
Trail Leads to Taiwan
Investigators traced the emails to compromised accounts linked to a Taiwanese university, though no direct ties to actual individuals or groups were confirmed. TGCOM24 reported that the sender likely used stolen credentials to mask their identity.
BBC coverage revealed parallel threats targeting over 700 schools in Scotland and Northern Ireland, with officials noting nearly identical phrasing. Scottish Education Secretary Mairi McAllan reassured parents, stating there was ‘no credible danger.’
Government Response
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni addressed the nation late Wednesday, condemning the threats as acts of psychological terror. ‘This wasn’t about causing physical harm—it was about spreading fear,’ she said, vowing to strengthen cybersecurity cooperation with European partners.
Meloni also confirmed intelligence agencies found no evidence of an active plot, but pledged to pursue those responsible. ‘We won’t let anonymous emails disrupt our children’s education,’ she insisted.
Broader European Pattern
The incident follows last week’s false bomb alerts at European airports, part of a widening trend of mass hoaxes. Authorities suspect the threats may be coordinated to test emergency responses or sow societal unease.
Families were urged to remain vigilant while officials promised enhanced screening of digital threats. ‘Every alert will be treated seriously until we identify the source,’ Meloni emphasized.
Source: www.breitbart.com — https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2026/11/12/mass-hoax-bomb-threat-hits-thousands-of-italian-schools/