Schools across Europe faced a fresh wave of bomb threats on Wednesday, with Italy bearing the brunt as approximately 6,300 institutions received emailed warnings. Hundreds of those schools were evacuated as a precaution, though no explosives were found and officials quickly classified the alerts as hoaxes.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stated that checks had found no indication of concrete danger, and police along with other agencies continued to monitor the situation. The messages, some signed by a purported "Mikhail Andropov, leader of the Vilayat of Misoginistan," also included threats against Meloni herself in certain cases. Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara noted that the large number of targets suggested low credibility for any real risk.

Similar emails reached schools in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland, where authorities assessed them as hoaxes originating from outside the UK and advised against evacuations in most instances. Police Scotland confirmed no credible risk, while Northern Ireland police said over 300 schools received the messages.

The incidents mark the latest in a series of disruptions hitting Europe this month, following hoax threats to commercial flights the prior week and earlier attacks on media outlets, supermarkets, and other infrastructure. Officials have pointed to possible hybrid warfare tactics aimed at sowing alarm, with some speculation linking the campaign to actors like Russia or Iran, though both nations have denied involvement.

Parents in affected Italian cities such as Rome, Milan, and Naples rushed to collect children, highlighting the practical impact on families and daily routines. Investigations by postal police and cybersecurity experts continue, as authorities work to trace the origins of the generic threatening emails.

This wave follows two prior incidents targeting Italian schools in October and early November, underscoring a pattern of repeated low-effort cyber disruptions across the continent.