Italian authorities ordered the evacuation of approximately 300 schools nationwide on Wednesday after receiving emailed bomb threats, marking the latest in a series of hoax disruptions targeting European institutions, including airlines and broadcasters.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stated that there was no evidence of any “concrete danger” to Italian schools and characterized the threats as attempts to “generate alarm and concern.”
She confirmed that investigations were underway and said she had convened a meeting of ministers for later that day.
Copies of the anonymous email obtained by Italian media outlets, including news agency LaPresse, indicated that the message also contained a threat against Meloni. She did not address the personal threat in her public statement, and her office offered no immediate comment.
Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani disclosed on Saturday that his personal data had been leaked on the dark web. Meloni attributed the breach to pro-Russian hackers.
Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara said 300 schools had received email threats, according to LaPresse. The ministry did not immediately respond to a request for confirmation.
At Rome’s Mamiani high school, students flooded into the streets believing the alarm signaled the start of recess, only learning of the bomb threat once they were outside.
“They say it was a bomb alert triggered by an email from Russian hackers claiming they would kill everyone,” said 18-year-old student Anita Bartocci. “It was quite violent.”
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