Bomb threat emails force school evacuations in Italy, Scotland and Northern Ireland
Thousands of students stopped classes in Italy on Wednesday, 11 November 2026, after staff at dozens of schools opened emails claiming explosives were hidden in classrooms. The same kind of message reached schools in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Bomb disposal teams from Italian and British police searched every address named in the messages with sniffer dogs and detection equipment. No explosives were found, and authorities treated the warnings as false alarms sent in bulk to spread panic. Police Scotland said at least 470 schools received the email and assessed it as a hoax.
Evacuations hit classrooms in Rome and Milan
In the Italian capital, more than 40 school units were emptied early in the morning after staff opened mailboxes containing notices of supposed imminent attacks. State police and specialized patrols sealed off the school perimeters and moved students into outdoor courtyards and nearby public squares.
Milan also recorded similar incidents at primary and secondary schools. Security authorities checked lockers, common areas and technical rooms before letting families collect underage students. Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara said more than 300 schools across Italy received the threats, and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said checks had found no evidence of a specific threat.
Northern Ireland schools evacuate in Belfast and nearby counties
About 15 schools in Belfast and nearby towns in County Down and County Antrim adopted immediate evacuation procedures after emails with terrorist wording reached them. Local police deployed tactical units to guard school perimeters and search the buildings. Police in Northern Ireland said more than 300 schools received the threatening email.
The procedure lasted a few hours in each town, until the risk was fully ruled out. School coordinators called parents to pick up their children, while the buildings stayed closed for forensic checks.
Cybercrime units trace the source of the emails
Cybercrime departments in Italy and the United Kingdom opened inquiries to trace the servers and IP addresses used to send the threats. Police Scotland’s Cyber and Fraud Unit is also carrying out enquiries with law enforcement partners across the UK and abroad.
Initial investigations are checking whether a single group coordinated the international messages sent in the same period. Police Scotland said schools did not need to suspend operations solely because of the emails. Classes at the affected schools were scheduled to return to normal the next day, after the formal conclusion of all security inspection reports.
