Bomb threats target Czech and Slovak schools

On Tuesday morning, schools in Czechia and Slovakia received bomb threats via a threatening email sent to approximately 500 institutions. This prompted immediate police investigations, leading to school closures and modified schedules to ensure the safety of students and staff. Authorities confirmed that no concrete evidence of danger was found, but inspections were carried out in affected schools. In Slovakia, nearly 270 primary and secondary schools were impacted, resulting in class interruptions and cancellations. The Slovak police have opened a criminal case, treating the threats as a potential terrorist act, which could result in severe penalties for the perpetrator. Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok emphasized the seriousness of the situation during a press conference, while Prosecutor General Maroš Žilinka and Slovak President Peter Pellegrini condemned the threats, calling for a strong response to ensure public safety. In a separate incident on the same day, a pupil attacked classmates with a knife in Domažlice, resulting in injuries to two children. This incident further heightened concerns regarding safety in schools. Slovak Commissioner for Children, Jozef Mikloško, expressed particular concern for first graders, highlighting the potential long-term psychological effects of such traumatic experiences. The opposition party in Slovakia criticized the Interior Ministry for inadequate preventive measures and announced plans to call an extraordinary parliamentary session to address security issues within the police force. The overall situation reflects growing anxiety over safety in educational environments, prompting calls for more effective measures to protect students and staff.