At least 300 schools in Italy evacuated after receiving bomb threats

A large number of schools in Northern Ireland were also sent a threatening email, the Northern Ireland Education Authority said on Wednesday, but have been advised to stay open as the authority said police did not regard it as a credible threat.

"Following a nationwide bomb alert, we wish to inform you that all students have been taken to a safe area and remain under the supervision of teaching staff," one school in Rome informed parents through a messaging app. The email received in Italy was signed "Mikhail Andropov, leader of the Vilayat of Misoginistan," message seen by.

Reuters. Read More:Newsroom bomb threats add to Euro flight hoaxes. The same purported authorclaimed responsibilityfor email bomb threats sent on Friday to newsrooms in Ireland and Bulgaria.

Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said Wednesday's threats were "part of a strategy that is quite clear by now: to spread fear and create anxiety," according to. Adnkronos news agency. "It is not always the work of foreign countries or hostile entities.

There are also attention-seekers and lunatics who, at a time like this, cannot wait to unleash terror in a city or a region," he added. Italian police forces are investigating the matter, a spokesperson for Rome police said.

Francesummoned Iran's ambassadoron Tuesday after accusing Tehran of acyberattackthat disabled refrigerators in hundreds of supermarkets last week. Iran's foreign ministry rejected as "baseless and hostile" accusations that its Revolutionary Guards were behind the attacks.

There are also concerns among European officials that hoax threats may be part of acampaign of "hybrid" disruptions, which many have blamed on Russia, aimed at countries helping Ukraine. Moscow has denied involvement.