Threatening Messages Sent to French Schools, Ministry Confirms
The threats were delivered through various digital platforms, including the ENT platform linking teachers, pupils, and parents, internal emails, and the Pronote software used by the education ministry. Authorities are actively investigating to identify the perpetrators behind these threats.
At least 30 schools in the Paris region have received threatening messages containing "shocking" footage of beheadings, the education ministry confirmed on Thursday. The messages, primarily targeting secondary schools, were accompanied by "serious threats" justifying and inciting terrorism.
The threats were delivered through various digital platforms, including the ENT platform linking teachers, pupils, and parents, internal emails, and the Pronote software used by the education ministry. Authorities are actively investigating to identify the perpetrators behind these threats.
READ ALSO:McPherson University Advocates Collective Vigilance Against Insecurity
In addition to the threatening messages, at least five high schools in the Yvelines department received bomb threats between Wednesday and Thursday. The perpetrators allegedly hacked a student's email address to distribute the messages along with the beheading video.
Similarly, a secondary school in the Seine-et-Marne department, located east of Paris, received a message claiming that explosives had been hidden throughout the establishment "in the name of Allah."
The education ministry has offered psychological support to individuals who were exposed to the distressing videos. These threats come after a series of false bomb alerts targeted schools, airports, and tourist sites in autumn 2023 and a fatal stabbing of a former teacher by a radicalized Islamist in October.
Prime Minister Gabriel Attal is set to chair a meeting on school security in response to these concerning developments. The ministry emphasized its commitment to ensuring the safety of students and staff amidst these threats.