PARIS, March 27 About 20 schools all of Paris received bomb threats on Wednesday, the Parisien newspaper reported on Wednesday.
“In total, about 20 schools and school institutions in Paris were the target of these attacks (threatening messages — ed.),” the article says.
Malicious emails sent through a digital learning portal contain threats to «blow everything up» as well as messages about C4 explosives planted in the building, Parisien reports. The authors of the threats claim that they are acting on behalf of the terrorist organization “Islamic State”*, banned in Russia, the newspaper writes.
The threatening letters were accompanied by a 12-minute video in which a man dressed like a military man and speaking fluent French explained how to deliver the fatal blows, police sources told Parisien.
It is noted that a number of school institutions were closed, kindergartens and primary schools near one of the affected lyceums also closed their doors to children. A police source said bomb threats were sent «all over Paris,» the report said. Teams of specialists with dog handlers were sent to each of the educational institutions to carry out the necessary checks, the article says.
Separately, the Figaro newspaper reported that another high school in the French capital, with 1,700 students, was evacuated after receiving a bomb threat and all classes were cancelled.
In October 2023, reports of bombs and threats of terrorist attacks increased in France. According to media reports, authorities have launched dozens of investigations due to such false reports. For several days, airports across the country received reports of mining, and many were evacuated several times. The Palace of Versailles was also evacuated several times. The incidents came amid France's highest terror threat level following a school attack in Arras that left a teacher dead. Reporting false threats can result in up to two years in prison and a fine of 30 thousand euros.
* A terrorist organization banned in Russia.