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Bomb alerts sent to schools in Italy and Northern Ireland in latest threats
Reuters • • world
Key Points:
- At least 300 schools in Italy were evacuated following bomb alert messages, which authorities believe to be hoaxes, with the number of affected schools expected to increase.
- Similar threatening emails were sent to schools in Northern Ireland, but police deemed these threats not credible and advised schools to remain open.
- The bomb threat emails were signed by a purported group leader, "Mikhail Andropov," who also claimed responsibility for previous threats to newsrooms in Ireland and Bulgaria.
- Italian officials view the threats as part of a broader strategy to spread fear and anxiety, potentially involving both foreign actors and domestic individuals seeking attention.
- The incidents occur amid wider concerns over hybrid disruptions in Europe, including cyberattacks on supermarkets and other infrastructure, with some European officials suspecting Russian involvement, which Moscow denies.
