World · Europe · 2 hrs ago
Around 300 Italian schools evacuated after emailed bomb threats
Around 300 schools across Italy received emailed bomb threats on Wednesday, prompting precautionary evacuations.
The threats affected schools in cities including Rome, Naples, Florence and Trieste.
Officials said checks so far had found no evidence of a concrete danger, and some pupils were allowed back to class after alarms were lifted.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said the messages appeared intended to cause alarm and concern, and called a meeting of ministers and intelligence chiefs.
The threats came amid a wider wave of hoax alerts and cyberattacks targeting institutions in Europe, including airlines and broadcasters.
Schools in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland also received similar emails, but authorities treated them as hoaxes and reported no disruption to classes.
Italian police are investigating, and authorities are checking the reports.
At least 300 schools in Italy were evacuated on Wednesday after receiving bomb alert emails.
Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara said about 300 schools had been affected and that the number could rise.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said checks had found no evidence of concrete danger.
The emails went to schools in several Italian cities, including Rome, Naples, Vicenza, Florence, Pisa and Trieste.
Police are investigating, and some schools allowed pupils to return to class after checks.
- Who
- At least 300 Italian schools received bomb alert emails. Police are investigating.
- What
- Schools were evacuated as a precaution after the alerts, which officials said appeared to be hoaxes.
- When
- Wednesday, November 11, 2026.
- Where
- Italy, including Rome, Naples, Vicenza, Florence, Pisa and Trieste.
- Why
- The alerts appeared intended to cause alarm and concern; the motive was not confirmed.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Italian airports and airlines elsewhere in Europe faced a series of bomb hoaxes that caused scares, evacuations and disruption.
Bomb alert emails prompted evacuations at at least 300 schools in Italy.
Checks in some regions found no danger, and pupils were allowed to return to class.
- Schools affected
- At least 300 in Italy
- Date
- Wednesday, November 11, 2026
- Cities named
- Rome, Naples, Vicenza, Florence, Pisa and Trieste
- Minister
- Giuseppe Valditara
- Prime minister
- Giorgia Meloni
6 sources
Hundreds of Italian schools hit by threats in suspected bomb hoax
Italy school evacuations: 300 schools cleared after emailed bomb threat
Hoax bomb alerts sent to schools in Italy, UK and Ireland
Meloni, grande attenzione sugli allarmi bomba ma non emergono pericoli
At least 300 Italian schools evacuated after email bomb alerts
What people are saying
cyber-attack, not a genuine risk
the number could rise
These reports appear rather linked to a strategy intended to cause alarm and concern