Italy bomb threat: 300+ schools evacuated across Rome, Milan, Naples
Synopsis
A single threatening email, purportedly from an obscure group calling itself 'Vilayat Misoginistan,' triggered the evacuation of more than 300 schools across Italy on 11 November — from nurseries in Rome to secondary schools in Palermo. With no devices found and PM Giorgia Meloni calling an emergency cabinet meeting, Italy is now weighing a large-scale security response to what may yet prove to be a coordinated hoax.
Key Takeaways
More than 300 schools across Italy were evacuated on 11 November 2026 following coordinated bomb threat emails.
Cities affected include Rome , Milan , Florence , Naples , Turin , Bari , Cagliari , and Palermo .
The threat email claimed to be from a group called 'Vilayat Misoginistan' and alleged explosives were planted in every targeted school.
The email also claimed a bomb was placed in Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara's car.
No explosive devices had been found as of latest reports; Police and Carabinieri conducted sweeps with bomb disposal units.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni reportedly called an emergency cabinet meeting at 4 pm local time to assess the situation.
More than 300 schools across Italy were evacuated on Wednesday, 11 November 2026, after a coordinated wave of bomb threat emails was sent to school administrations in multiple major cities, including Rome, Milan, Florence, and Naples. No explosive devices had been found as of the latest reports, but students and teachers were sent home as a precautionary measure while security forces conducted sweeps.
Scale and Scope of the Threats
At least 300 schools were affected, according to Italian television channel La7, citing Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara. The final count could rise further as more institutions reported receiving the threat email. The targeted schools spanned a wide geographic range — 12 schools in the province of Rome, including primary schools and nurseries; 12 in Milan and the surrounding Lombardy region; and another 12 in Naples and the Campania region. Schools in Turin, Sanremo, Vicenza, Bari, Cagliari, and Palermo were also reportedly targeted.
What the Email Said
The threatening email, a copy of which was published by Italian newspaper La Repubblica after it was shared by staff at one school, opened with the words: 'This is Mikhail Andropov, leader of the Vilayat Misoginistan. We have come to annihilate you. We are going to carry out a genocide against Italians.' The email further claimed that a 'powerful explosive device' had been planted in each targeted school, and alleged that a bomb had been 'placed in the car of your (Education) Minister.' There is little publicly available information about the purported group calling itself 'Vilayat Misoginistan,' and investigators have not yet confirmed its existence or credibility.
Police and Government Response
Police and Carabinieri military police, backed by explosive-ordnance expert teams, carried out security checks across all flagged institutions. As of the latest reports, no evidence had been found to substantiate the threats. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni reportedly convened an urgent cabinet meeting at 4 pm local time (1500 GMT) to assess the situation. State broadcaster Rai News 24 confirmed the government was monitoring developments in real time.
Voices From the Ground
Cristina Costarelli, head of the Lazio region's school masters association, told newspaper Il Corriere della Sera: 'I suppose this is a myth maniac, but it is triggering alarm… it has indeed sparked an absurd panic.' Her remarks reflect the broader tension between the need for precautionary evacuations and the operational disruption caused by what may ultimately prove to be a hoax.
Wider Context and What Comes Next
Coordinated mass bomb-threat emails targeting schools have occurred in several European countries in recent years, often proving to be hoaxes but invariably triggering large-scale emergency responses. Italian investigators are examining the message's origin, tracing the email's routing, and assessing any credible links to known networks. The focus on schools — including nurseries — and the explicit threat against a sitting minister have elevated the political stakes of this incident. Authorities are expected to provide a fuller security assessment after the cabinet meeting concludes.
Point of View
Suggesting a troll or hoax operation designed to maximise disruption at minimum cost. Yet Italy had no real choice but to evacuate: a government that ignored a credible-sounding threat to nurseries and was later proven wrong would face an impossible political reckoning. The real question is what protocol reforms — email filtering, faster triage, graduated response — can prevent a single anonymous sender from shutting down an entire country's school system.
NationPress
11 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools were evacuated in Italy on 11 November 2026?
At least 300 schools across Italy were evacuated on 11 November 2026 after receiving bomb threat emails, according to Italian TV channel La7, citing Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara. The final number was expected to rise as more institutions reported receiving the email.
Were any explosives found in the targeted Italian schools?
No explosive devices had been found as of the latest reports. Police, Carabinieri, and bomb disposal experts conducted thorough security sweeps across all flagged schools, but found no evidence to substantiate the threats.
Who or what is 'Vilayat Misoginistan'?
'Vilayat Misoginistan' is the name used by the sender of the threat emails, who identified themselves as 'Mikhail Andropov, leader' of the group. There is little publicly available information about this purported organisation, and investigators had not confirmed its existence or any credible affiliation as of latest reports.
What did the Italian government do in response to the school bomb threats?
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni reportedly called an urgent cabinet meeting at 4 pm local time (1500 GMT) to assess the situation. Police and Carabinieri, alongside explosive-ordnance teams, were deployed to all affected schools for security checks.
Which cities in Italy were affected by the school bomb threat emails?
The bomb threat emails targeted schools in Rome, Milan, Florence, Naples, Turin, Sanremo, Vicenza, Bari, Cagliari, and Palermo, making it a nationwide incident spanning both northern and southern Italy.
