Coordinated hoax bomb threats prompted the evacuation of at least 300 schools in Italy, while institutions in Northern Ireland were told to stay open after police assessed similar messages as non-credible. The threatening emails were signed by a sender identifying as "Mikhail Andropov," an alias previously tied to recent bomb alerts sent to newsrooms in Ireland and Bulgaria. Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto characterized the operation as a deliberate tactic to induce fear and anxiety. The disruptions coincide with wider cyber incidents and alerts impacting essential European services, including supermarkets, air traffic, and blood banks.
Key points
Police in Northern Ireland determined the emailed threats were not credible and advised t…: Police in Northern Ireland determined the emailed threats were not credible and advised targeted schools to remain open.
The sender name used in the Italian school warnings was previously attached to bomb threa…: The sender name used in the Italian school warnings was previously attached to bomb threats targeting newsrooms in Ireland and Bulgaria.
European officials suspect the widespread hoaxes and cyberattacks may be part of a hybrid…: European officials suspect the widespread hoaxes and cyberattacks may be part of a hybrid campaign targeting nations that support Ukraine.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
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 a copy of the message seen by Reuters.
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