False bomb alarms hit thousands of schools in Italy and Scotland

Hoax emails claiming that explosives had been planted were sent on Wednesday 11 November 2026 to schools in many Italian cities, including Rome, Naples, Vicenza, Florence, Pisa and Trieste. A spokesperson for Italy's education ministry said more than six thousand schools had received them.

Evacuations and government response

Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara told Reuters that at least 300 schools had been evacuated, and that this number could still rise. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called an emergency meeting at Palazzo Chigi of government members and heads of intelligence to assess the situation and coordinate action. According to the Bankier.pl report, the prime minister also said there was no threat.

Reuters, citing a government source, reported that the email was signed with the name "Michaił Andropow, przywódca Wilajetu Mizoginistanu". The Italian news agency ANSA quoted threats against Italians in the message. It is not yet clear who is behind the emails. ANSA also noted that a few days earlier, the heads of 280 schools had received a similar email.

Scotland and Northern Ireland

The same day, similar messages reached schools in the UK. According to British police and media reports, more than 770 schools in Scotland and Northern Ireland received the same content. Police Scotland treated the emails as a hoax. In a statement published by Highland Council, the force said there was nothing to suggest a credible threat or any wider threat to the public. In Northern Ireland, the PSNI also treats the email as a hoax.

What this means for you

If a child attends school in Scotland or Northern Ireland, police say there is no requirement to evacuate buildings or keep children at home based solely on the content of these emails. UK guidance for education settings says any bomb threat should be reported to the police by dialling 999, even if it seems implausible.