Andrea Innocenti In recent days, the capital has been rocked by a series of bomb scares , forcing hundreds of schools to evacuate their students. The emailed reports cited the suspected presence of explosive devices and caused classes to be suspended for several hours. No explosive material was ever found, but the impact on the school climate was significant.
Timeline of warnings and response from authorities
The first message, received on November 11, was signed by "Mikhail Andropov" and referred to a hypothetical "Vilayat of Misoginistan." The email affected more than 700 schools in the Rome area and prompted immediate evacuations, with the intervention of bomb squads and law enforcement. The following day, at 9:39 a.m., a second message arrived, again under the same pseudonym, but with a more aggressive tone: it called for the resignation of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Schools responded differently: some evacuated again, others waited for the prefect's approval, based on the government protocol that provides for evacuations only in the presence of concrete evidence of danger.
The government protocol on the "fake" alarm
The Interministerial Committee for the Security of the Republic (CISR) has released an operational protocol urging administrations not to proceed with evacuations unless there is tangible evidence of a threat.
The document emphasizes that mass reports, such as those on November 11 and 12, must be assessed as potentially fake and handled with the utmost caution, while still leaving the prefect the power to order evacuations in the event of concrete danger.
Student reaction: the survey
A survey of approximately 1.000 students at all levels, conducted immediately after the first evacuations, revealed a varied response. Forty-six percent of students reported feeling fear and insecurity, while 32% expressed annoyance at the disruption of routine. At the same time, nearly half of those interviewed (48%) believed the alarms were part of a tension strategy aimed at creating chaos, and only 6% considered them simply a "fad" or an episode of mythomania. When asked who had directly experienced the alarm, 38% reported dealing with the situation calmly, dismissing it as a prank or a false alarm.
Student protests and institutional demands
On November 11, in front of the Palazzo delle Province, students from the Alternative Student Opposition (OSA) and the USB union held banners with the message "Hands off our schools, stop the strategy of tension." The OSA coordinator declared: "We know that a strategy of tension is underway. The government is trying to quell the protests under the pretext of security, but we will not be intimidated." The demonstration preceded two further events: an international protest scheduled for November 20 and a further action on December 12 , in alliance with workers against war, rearmament, and the high cost of living.
Meetings with institutions
A delegation consisting of representatives from USB and OSA was welcomed at the Prefecture. Marco Martini, head of USB School, highlighted two issues: the physical security of school buildings and the climate of alarmism that limits democratic expression. Tommaso, a student from Cambiare rotta, requested a meeting with the Ministry of Education and Merit to ensure effective safety in schools and cited the occupation of the Minghetti High School in Bologna as an example of student resilience. Both reiterated their intention to gather in the square on November 20th.
The government, represented by the Interior Minister and the Education Minister, confirmed that law enforcement is carrying out routine checks and that, in the absence of concrete evidence, school activities must continue. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni characterized the warnings as a "strategy to create fear and chaos," adding that investigators are already working to identify those responsible.