Over 100 German schools received bomb threats in a single day, forcing evacuations and disrupting exams as authorities scramble to identify those responsible for the nationwide security scare.
At a Glance
- More than 100 schools across Germany received bomb threats on May 26, 2025, primarily via email
- Thuringia was hardest hit with 35 schools affected, followed by Rhineland-Palatinate (39) and Saxony (25)
- Police have identified four teenage suspects in connection with similar threats in Duisburg
- No explosives have been found, and authorities currently assess the actual risk as low
- The crime carries penalties of fines or up to five years imprisonment under German law
Nationwide Threat Campaign Targets Schools
A coordinated wave of bomb threats targeting over 100 German schools has triggered evacuations and major disruptions across multiple states. The threats, delivered primarily through email on May 26, 2025, hit schools in at least seven states with identical threatening messages. Eastern Germany’s Thuringia state bore the brunt of the attack with 35 schools receiving threats, particularly disrupting final mathematics examinations for students. In Erfurt alone, 12 schools were targeted with threatening communications that caused significant operational disruptions.
“Such threatening emails are not a trivial matter,” said Herbert Reul in a statement regarding similar threats that recently affected schools in Duisburg.
The coordinated nature of the threats has raised concerns among security officials, though no explosive devices have been discovered at any of the targeted locations. Rhineland-Palatinate described experiencing a “threatening wave” with 39 schools receiving similar emails. Saxony reported 25 affected educational institutions, while isolated threats reached schools in North Rhine-Westphalia, Bavaria, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, and Baden-Württemberg.
Investigation Underway as Authorities Respond
Police departments across Germany deployed special forces, sniffer dogs, and other resources to investigate the threats. Authorities have advised residents to avoid affected areas during the security operations. In some cases, officers evacuated not only schools but also surrounding neighborhoods as a precautionary measure. The threat assessment varies by region, but most police agencies currently rate the risk of actual harm as low while continuing thorough investigations to identify those responsible.
German law enforcement is taking the incidents seriously despite no explosives being found. Similar threats have targeted town halls in recent weeks, with seven German cities including Augsburg, Neunkirchen, Kaiserslautern, Chemnitz, Goettingen, Heilbronn, and Rendsburg facing evacuations after bomb threats. In Augsburg alone, approximately 500 people were evacuated from the town hall and surrounding areas after receiving threatening communications.
Suspects Identified in Similar Cases
While the investigation into the nationwide school threats continues, police have identified four teenage suspects in connection with similar threatening emails recently sent to schools in Duisburg. Those threats, which contained far-right content, led to the closure of 20 schools and affected nearly 18,000 students. Authorities believe the Duisburg incident may have been an attempt to prevent scheduled examinations, similar to the disruption of math exams in Thuringia during the most recent wave of threats.
“The police have pulled out all the stops in no time at all and used all the technical means at their disposal to determine the backgrounds of the suspects of the Duisburg threatening emails,” Herbert Reul stated regarding the investigation.
In Berlin, investigations are examining over 100 cases of threats potentially linked to right-wing extremists. The incidents occur amid growing concerns about the rise of far-right movements in Germany, with the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party gaining significant support in recent elections. Similar waves of bomb threats have also been reported in neighboring countries like Hungary and Serbia in recent years, suggesting a potentially broader pattern of disruptive threats targeting public institutions across Central Europe.
Officials Condemn Attacks on Educational Institutions
Government officials have strongly condemned the threats against schools and other public institutions. Rhineland-Palatinate’s Minister of Education, Sven Teuber, described the threats as “hideous attacks on places that are supposed to offer protection, education and cohesion.” The psychological impact on students and staff, combined with the disruption to educational schedules, has sparked outrage among political leaders and school administrators throughout the affected regions.
Under German law, bomb threats are classified as “disruption of public peace through the threat of crime,” carrying penalties including substantial fines or up to five years imprisonment. A trial is currently underway in Stuttgart against a 20-year-old accused of sending similar threats in 2023, indicating authorities are pursuing legal consequences for those behind such disruptions. The recent wave follows a pattern of threats that have targeted various public and private institutions across Germany in recent months.
