School in Köthen Disrupted by Bomb Threat
In an unexpected turn of events, classes at a school in Köthen (Anhalt-Bitterfeld) were abruptly canceled on Monday morning. This came after a staff member reported a menacing email received over the weekend, which was linked to the ongoing Gaza war. The police promptly announced the bomb threat, leading to a temporary lockdown and a thorough search of the school premises by sniffer dogs for any traces of explosives. The all-clear was given at noon.
Police are currently suspecting a connection with automated circulars as multiple schools across Germany have been receiving such threatening emails recently. The investigation into this matter is still ongoing.
Despite the all-clear, emergency procedures remained in place due to the ongoing investigation. The incident served as a stark reminder of the escalating crime-related emergencies that have been affecting schools nationwide.
Though specific information on Köthen's cases isn't extensively available, it's crucial to note the broader context. Europe-wide, there has been an increasing trend of bomb threats targeting educational institutions since spring 2024. This operation has hit multiple NATO member states, including Germany, with some countries experiencing multiple instances.
These threats usually come from foreign email providers, with evidence pointing to Russian email addresses being used in certain cases, including threats against polling stations in the United States. Investigations are ongoing, but so far, no explosives have been found in the searched schools.
European countries such as Hungary, Bulgaria, and Slovakia have been affected by this coordinated attack. The Hungarian secret services, along with their Slovakian counterparts, have been consulting on how to respond to these threats, which have resulted in temporary suspension of classes in some areas and continued education in others.
The most recent wave of threats hit Hungary on January 23, followed by Slovenia and Slovakia, indicating a continuous pattern of coordinated attacks. While Köthen's specific case isn't detailed, the broader context provides insight into a widespread and potentially state-actor-involved issue affecting educational institutions across Europe.
