Bomb Threats in Lower Austria, Upper Austria, and Vienna: Evacuations and Investigations

The premises were partially evacuated as a precaution on Monday, confirmed Lower Austrian police spokesman Johann Baumschlager upon request, according to a report by the ORF regional studio. The emails were received by the educational institutions starting late Sunday evening. In Lower Austria alone, threats were counted against more than 20 schools.

The Lower Austrian police are in close contact with the education directorate, it was emphasized. Explosive experts and specially trained dogs were present in the affected buildings. No dangerous items were discovered for the time being. Students from the affected institutions were sent home, and alternative care options were quickly set up.

Cases also in Upper Austria, Vienna, and Burgenland

In Upper Austria, the threats were also received via email, confirmed a police spokeswoman in a report by "ORF Upper Austria." The threats mainly affected vocational schools throughout the state, the buildings were evacuated, and police operations were still ongoing in the morning.

Schools in the federal capital were also affected, confirmed a spokeswoman for the Vienna State Police Directorate upon APA inquiry. Police measures such as searches were carried out, but nothing suspicious has been found so far.

In Burgenland, a threat was made against the vocational school in Eisenstadt. The building was evacuated and searched by the police, a police spokesperson confirmed to the APA a report by ORF Burgenland. The students were accommodated in the Allsportzentrum in the meantime.

In Carinthia, there was also a threat against a school on Monday morning, the police confirmed to the APA upon request a corresponding report by the "Kleine Zeitung". Accordingly, a high school in Villach was evacuated and searched, but by late morning, the operation was completed and the evacuation was lifted.

In Styria, the threatening emails were mainly directed against vocational and vocational training schools. Nine institutions in the districts of Southeast Styria, Murtal, Hartberg-Fürstenfeld, Bruck-Mürzzuschlag, and the state capital Graz were affected, here against three schools. By 11:00 a.m., the police measures were completed, nothing was found, the state police department reported upon request. Education Councillor Stefan Hermann (FPÖ) thanked the emergency services and hoped that those responsible for this threat action would be quickly identified and held accountable.

Investigations regarding the email author or the group of senders were underway. From Lower Austria, the police also issued an appeal to potential copycats. "It should be noted that this is not a trivial or minor offense," Chief Inspector Baumschlager emphasized. It involves dangerous threats in many cases, which is punishable by law.

"The perpetrators can expect severe penalties," the Ministry of the Interior also emphasized in a written statement. In recent days, bomb threats have been received at various institutions, it was explained. The police take such threats seriously and have taken individually appropriate police measures in all cases. "Currently, there are no indications of a specific threat."

(APA/Red)

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