BOMB HOAXES HIT 6,300 ITALIAN SCHOOLS AFTER EUROPEAN FLIGHT DISRUPTIONS
Around 6,300 schools in Italy received emailed bomb threats on Wednesday, with at least 300 evacuated as authorities investigated warnings believed to be hoaxes.
The alerts interrupted lessons and forced parents to leave work and collect their children. Some pupils were left frightened and confused as teachers moved them to safety.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said there was no indication of danger and that police and other authorities were monitoring developments. The threatening message also targeted the prime minister.
Similar emails reached schools in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. More than 300 schools in Northern Ireland received threats, but authorities assessed them as not credible and advised schools to remain open.
Airlines were also affected by a separate wave of bomb threats last week. Passenger aircraft across Europe underwent security checks, while some flights were diverted or escorted by fighter jets.
Affected airlines included Finnair, Aer Lingus, Aegean Airlines and Wizz Air. Authorities reported that no explosive devices were found and the aircraft landed safely.
Investigators have not established whether the school threats and aviation incidents came from the same source.
The incidents have heightened concern about how hoax messages can disrupt schools, transport and other public services, even when no physical threat is found.