Security scare triggered across Italy after 300 schools receive bomb threats days after flight chaos in Europe
Schools across Italy were evacuated on Wednesday following a series of bomb threats, which were later suspected to be hoaxes. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, however, said there was no “concrete danger” based on the initial security checks.
Similar threats were reported at schools in Britain and Ireland, prompting evacuations in some areas. Italian media reported that as many as 312 schools had received threats, prompting Meloni to call a government meeting on Wednesday.Â
The development comes days after a similar security scare was witnessed after several flights in European cities received bomb threats, prompting large-scale diversions and emergency landings.
No threat found so far, checks underway
In a Facebook post, Meloni said initial investigations had found no evidence of an immediate threat. “At present, based on the checks carried out, no element has emerged that would suggest there is a concrete danger,” she said.
She added that the reports appeared to be part of a strategy intended to create panic and public concern, with authorities investigating their origins.
Antonello Giannelli, president of the ANP association of Italian school heads, described the threats as “clearly fake”. However, he warned that the misuse of modern communication tools could cause widespread disruption and damage.
“We hope that full light will quickly be shed on the origin of these threats and that those responsible will be identified,” Giannelli said.
The latest incidents come amid a series of hoax bomb alerts in recent weeks, including threats targeting flights across Europe and cyberattacks on supermarket refrigeration systems in several European countries, including Italy.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani also said on Saturday that he was being targeted by cybercriminals who were publishing his personal information online over Italy’s support for Ukraine.
The incidents have renewed concerns over hybrid warfare, which involves the use of cyberattacks, disinformation and other tactics to create instability and disrupt public life.
Bomb threats to European flights
On November 5, multiple commercial flights across Europe were diverted or grounded following bomb threats, triggering security alerts in multiple countries. Flights operated by Wizz Air, Aer Lingus and LOT Polish Airlines were among those affected. Authorities confirmed that all passengers were safe and no explosives or hazardous items were found during initial checks.
The first reported incident involved an Aer Lingus Airbus A320 flying from Dublin to Rome, which was diverted to Évreux air base in France following a bomb threat. The aircraft landed safely with 151 passengers and six crew members on board. Military bomb disposal teams were deployed to inspect the plane as authorities monitored the situation.
A Wizz Air flight travelling from Milan to Warsaw was also diverted to Vienna after a bomb threat was received while the aircraft was airborne.
Another LOT Polish Airlines flight from Warsaw to Paris was stopped while taxiing and moved to a parking stand for security checks. Bulgarian authorities later confirmed that no hazardous items had been found.
According to local media reports, three more aircraft were forced to land at Bulgarian airports following bomb threats. Two flights from Copenhagen and Madrid landed in Sofia, while another aircraft travelling from London landed in Plovdiv.
With inputs from AFP
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