A distressing surge of threats has targeted “nearly 130” middle and high schools and colleges across regions in France, including Île-de-France, Hauts-de-France, and the Grand Est. The threats, which encompass malicious acts and bomb threats, have been channeled via digital workspaces, triggering significant disruptions and safety concerns within educational institutions. Notably, the Ministry of Education disclosed that the magnitude of the threats materialized in 74 high schools in Île-de-France, 22 middle schools in Seine-et-Marne, 11 middle and high schools in the Strasbourg academy, and 18 middle and high schools in Hauts-de-France, culminating in a series of evacuations and heightened security measures.
The gravity of the situation was further underscored by reports from the Haut-Rhin prefecture, revealing “multiple bomb threats in educational establishments” which resulted in evacuations, marking a distressing escalation in the severity of the threats. The Bas-Rhin prefecture equally reported a concerning influx of bomb threats directed at around “fifteen” high schools and colleges, echoing the disruptive and concerning nature of the threats. Moreover, some of the threatening messages received by educational establishments contained deeply distressing content, including a video of beheading, amplifying the trauma and anxiety experienced by students, staff, and their families.
The lamentable recurrence of bomb threats and compromised digital workspaces, particularly via hacked ENTs, has prompted evacuations and security alerts, exerting considerable strain on the affected educational institutions and their communities. The requisite to fortify cybersecurity measures and engender a safe and secure learning environment for students assumes paramount importance in light of these destabilizing threats. The Ministry
