ROME: Schools across Italy were evacuated on Wednesday after around 6,300 of them received bomb warnings, the latest in a series of threats and cyberattacks around Europe against supermarkets, blood banks, air traffic and broadcasters.

Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland said many of their schools received a similar email threat from abroad, but it was classed as a hoax and did not disrupt classes.

In Italy, schools closed swiftly after the warnings, prompting many parents to drop what they were doing to collect children.

Thousands of Italian schools evacuated; one email includes a threat to target PM Giorgia Meloni

“My daughter Dafne started crying because the kids did not understand what was happening, and she was still shaken when I picked her up,” said Nensi Bego, parent of a child at the Mazzini middle school in Rome. “This is so annoying. It’s obvious it’s just a hoax that disrupts lessons and disrupts everyone’s day.”

A copy of the message seen by Reuters also included a threat to target Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. She said the bomb alerts posed no danger and that police and other public bodies were monitoring the situation.

The email received in Italy was signed “Mikhail Andropov, leader of the Vilayat of Misoginistan”, according to the message.

The same purported author claimed responsibility for email bomb threats sent on Friday to newsrooms in Ireland and Bulgaria.

Some European officials suspect Russia may be behind a campaign of disruption to everyday life in European nations.

However, Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said Wednesday’s threats were part of a clear strategy “to spread fear and create anxiety”, according to Adnkronos news agency.

“It is not always the work of foreign countries or hostile entities. There are also attention-seekers and lunatics who, at a time like this, cannot wait to unleash terror in a city or a region,” he added.

Published in Dawn, November 12th, 2026