Key facts
- Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara said 300 schools were affected by the bomb alerts and the number could rise.
- A government source said the email was signed "Mikhail Andropov, leader of the Vilayat of Misoginistan."
- A Rome school told parents all students had been taken to a safe area and remained under teaching staff supervision.
- A spokesperson for Rome police said Italian police forces are investigating the alerts.
At least 300 schools in Italy were evacuated on November 11 after receiving the same bomb alert message, Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara told the La7 TV channel. He said the alerts were presumed to be hoaxes and that the number of schools affected was expected to rise.
One school in Rome told parents that following a nationwide bomb alert all students had been taken to a safe area and remained under the supervision of teaching staff.
A government source with knowledge of the matter said the email was signed "Mikhail Andropov, leader of the Vilayat of Misoginistan." A spokesperson for Rome police said Italian police forces are investigating.
Reuters reported that the alerts came amid rising concern in Europe about threats it described as hybrid warfare, which it said have targeted supermarkets, blood banks, air traffic and TV broadcasters.