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At least 300 Italian schools evacuated after email bomb alerts

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In short

The threatening emails were signed under the name "Mikhail Andropov," who claimed leadership of a fictitious group that had targeted newsrooms in Ireland and Bulgaria days earlier. Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto cautioned that the scare may stem from attention-seeking individuals instead of state-sponsored foreign operations. Meanwhile, European officials remain vigilant about whether these disruptions align with a wider campaign of hybrid warfare targeting allies of Ukraine.

Key points

  • European officials are investigating whether widespread digital disruptions represent hyb…: European officials are investigating whether widespread digital disruptions represent hybrid warfare targeting nations that support Ukraine.
  • Italian defence leadership noted that the mass evacuation threats could be driven by atte…: Italian defence leadership noted that the mass evacuation threats could be driven by attention-seekers rather than foreign state actors.
  • Recent cyber incidents and disruptive alerts have simultaneously impacted European air tr…: Recent cyber incidents and disruptive alerts have simultaneously impacted European air traffic, broadcasters, supermarkets, and blood banks.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

Bomb alerts sent to schools in Italy and Northern Ireland in latest threats

ROME: At least 300 schools in Italy were evacuated on Wednesday (Nov 11) after receiving a bomb alert message, the government said, the latest in a series of threats and cyberattacks on supermarkets, blood banks, air traffic and TV broadcasters across Europe.

Italian Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara told La7 TV channel that the alerts were presumed to be hoaxes, adding that the number of schools affected was expected to rise.

A large number of schools in Northern Ireland were also sent a threatening email, the Northern Ireland Education Authority said on Wednesday, but have been advised to stay open as the authority said police did not regard it as a credible threat.

"Following a nationwide bomb alert, we wish to inform you that all students have been taken to a safe area and remain under the supervision of teaching staff," one school in Rome informed parents through a messaging app.

The email received in Italy was signed "Mikhail Andropov, leader of the Vilayat of Misoginistan," according to…

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