Thousands of European schools receive hoax bomb threats as authorities change their response
Italy limited evacuations after a second wave of mass threat emails, while police in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Ireland classified similar messages as hoaxes.
- Development
- 12 November 2026
- Coverage
- Breaking news
- Current status
- Developing case
- Source record
- 3 verified sources
New wave reaches thousands of Italian schools
More than 3,700 Italian schools received bomb-threat emails on Thursday, Reuters reported, a day after messages reached about 6,300 schools. Only 77 schools were evacuated during the second wave after the government advised administrators not to clear buildings solely because of a mass email when there was no concrete evidence of danger. Police reported no explosive devices or credible threat. The revised response was intended to protect pupils while reducing the disruption caused by messages designed to trigger closures, emergency deployments and public alarm. [1] [2] [3]
Similar messages sent across the United Kingdom and Ireland
The Police Service of Northern Ireland said more than 300 schools received the same threatening email on Wednesday and that investigators believed it came from outside the United Kingdom. Police Scotland and Irish police also assessed similar messages as hoaxes. Authorities told schools to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity, but did not recommend evacuation based on the emails alone. The threats followed a separate series of false bomb alerts involving European commercial flights. Investigators have not publicly established that the school and airline campaigns were directed by the same person or group. [1] [2] [3]
Officials warn against unsupported attribution
Some European officials have raised broader concerns about hostile-state disruption and hybrid warfare, but Italian authorities said they had no evidence linking the school threats to Russia or another government. Moscow has denied involvement in disruptive activity attributed to it. The emails used names and language that appeared designed to attract attention, but a signature does not prove authorship. Police are examining routing information, compromised accounts and other digital evidence to identify the sender. No arrest had been announced by Thursday. [1] [2] [3]
Italy plans a common protocol for future alerts
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni met opposition leaders and said the government would develop a protocol for handling mass alerts. The central question is how schools can respond consistently without ignoring a genuine warning or allowing a low-cost email campaign to close thousands of buildings. Opposition figures argued for more cybersecurity investment and coordination. Police in the affected countries continued their inquiries while keeping the assessed public risk low. Authorities emphasized that anyone receiving a specific threat or observing suspicious activity should still contact police immediately. [1] [2] [3]
Digital evidence may reveal whether the waves are connected
Investigators can compare message headers, sending infrastructure, wording, recipient lists and the timing of each campaign. Similar language may indicate a common source, but it can also be copied by unrelated actors after publicity. Requests to email providers and hosting companies may identify accounts or connection records, subject to the laws of several countries. Even when no device exists, knowingly sending a threat can carry serious criminal penalties and create substantial emergency costs. Schools are balancing two risks: underreacting to a credible warning and allowing anonymous mass messages to repeatedly halt education. Police said their low-risk assessment could change if new, specific evidence emerged. Officials urged families to follow instructions from their own school and police service because risk assessments can differ by location. [1] [2] [3]
Sources & further reading
- Threatening emails to over 300 schools being treated as a hoax ↗Police Service of Northern Ireland · 2026-11-11 · Primary source
- Italian schools defy new wave of bomb threats to remain open ↗Reuters · 2026-11-12
- Schools in Italy, U.K. and Ireland get hoax bomb threats ↗CBS News · 2026-11-11
Reader comments.
Keep it respectful and relevant to the report. No personal information, harassment or unsupported accusations. Comments are readers’ views.
Loading your sign-in status…