Italian authorities proceeded this Wednesday to evacuate several dozen schools spread across the country after the receipt of an anonymous email sent in bulk, in which a bomb threat was warned against some 300 educational centers. Despite the scale of the warning, for the moment no real danger to the population has been detected.
"Around 300 schools throughout Italy have received emails with bomb threats, although it is expected that the figure will increase," Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara said, in statements collected by the Italian newspaper La Stampa.
The head of the Education portfolio has issued a message of reassurance to the public and the school community, stressing that "alarm must not spread." "From the content of the email it is clearly evident that the real risk is practically nonexistent," he said.
Valditara also noted that "the most likely" is that it is a "cyberattack," although he reiterated that, in the face of this type of incident, it is necessary to activate the protocols set out with the collaboration of the security services.
In recent days, similar episodes had already been recorded, when about 280 directors of educational centers in Italy received an email with threats of similar characteristics, which reinforces the hypothesis of a coordinated action.
For its part, the Italian Executive has emphasized that it "is keeping a close watch" on the situation generated by these bomb warnings in schools throughout the territory. "Security forces and institutions at all levels are working to monitor the situation and convey reassurance to citizens, families, and staff at educational centers," it stressed in a statement collected by the media.