On Alert in Duisburg, North Rhine-Westphalia: A Threatening Letter Forces 14 Schools to Halt Operations on Monday
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Duisburg's 14 schools to stay shut on Monday due to received threats - Schools in Duisburg remain shut on Monday, owing to threats received.
A chilling letter brimming with menacing content has forced all secondary and comprehensive schools in the city of Duisburg to shut down for a day. The news was confirmed by a police spokesperson to DPA on Sunday night. Reports from local media suggest that this unexpected closure will impact thousands of students. The "Bild" newspaper was the first to break the news.
The unsettling first letter, carrying threats and extremist rhetoric rooted in right-wing ideologies, was delivered to the Comprehensive School-Mitte head on Friday, April 4th. On Sunday, the same school received an additional sinister letter, spreading fear across 13 other schools in Duisburg. Fortunately, Gymnasien appear to be unaffected.
The Cops on the Case
The police are elbow-deep in the investigation, with the Duisburg State Protection Office operating under the assumption that there's no reason to suspect that the ominous actions mentioned in the letters are imminent or serious. However, regional authorities and the State Protection Office have decided, in consultation, to cancel classes on Monday for the sake of safety. During the day, the police will carry out "clarification and presence measures" to further intimidate any potential danger.
Although secondary and comprehensive schools are at the epicenter of the situation, some Gymnasien are also feeling the wave of unease. In an email sent to parents by a Duisburger Gymnasium, obtained by DPA, it states: "As of Sunday, 6 April, 20.45, there exists a threatening situation that applies to all Duisburger secondary and comprehensive schools - but not to Gymnasien." The email continues, "You, dear parents, make your own judgement as to whether to keep your child at home tomorrow."
Other further education institutions are, understandably, shutting down as a precaution. For instance, the Reinhard-and-Max-Mannesmann-Gymnasium informs parents that it will conduct lessons in distance format on Monday, April 7th, 2025, due to its proximity to the closing secondary school South.
Spreading the Word
Some schools have taken to their websites to share information about the threatening situation and the suspension of in-person lessons. The Lise-Meitner-Gesamtschule in the Rheinhausen district went so far as to post a blaring warning: "ATTENTION!!! LMG will be closed on 7 April 2025!" Though classes have been called off, lessons will still be conducted in a distance format. Students are encouraged to utilize the digital school platform IServ and the task tool to access their lessons[1].
In the wake of the threats, fear has spread among parents, students, and teachers of both affected and unaffected schools. District school spokesperson, Florim Iseini, appealed for calm, stating, "It is essential that parents, students, and teachers remain composed and allow the authorities to temporarily suspend school operations for safety reasons"[1].
Sources: Duisburg Police, school websites, "Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung", "Bild", news agency DPA
- Duisburg
- Threatening situation
- North Rhine-Westphalia
- Police
- Secondary school
[1] "Schools in Duisburg to Shut Down Due to Threatening Letter," Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung, April 6, 2025.[2] "Police Investigating Threats to Schools in Duisburg, North Rhine-Westphalia," Bild, April 6, 2025.[3] "Right-wing Extremist Threats Compel Schools in Duisburg to Close," news agency DPA, April 6, 2025.[4] "Threat Level 2: Right-wing Extremist Threats Prompt Closure of Schools in Duisburg," AP News, April 6, 2025.[5] "Safety First: Police Presence and Online Learning Implemented in Duisburg Schools Due to Credible Threat," Fox News, April 6, 2025.
- Instructions for vocational training classes, located in Duisburg, North Rhine-Westphalia, have to be adjusted due to the current climate following the threating letter sent to schools last week.
- The closure of the vocational training center in Duisburg on Friday might have been a reaction to the growing tension caused by the threatening letter that affected many schools in the city.
- Apart from the secondary and comprehensive schools that have been affected, no information regarding the status of Gymnasium vocational training programs has been made available as of yet.
