Over 100 schools across Germany were hit with a wave of bomb threats on Monday, May 26, 2025. The threats primarily arrived via email, causing disruptions to lessons and, in some cases, delaying or canceling exams. In at least one school, there was a reference to Islamic State, but there is no evidence anyone associated with the organization actually sent this threat.
The Eastern German state of Thuringia was significantly affected, with 35 regular schools receiving bomb threats — initially reported as 36. These threats were particularly disruptive, as students were scheduled to take their final math exams.
Patrick Martin, spokesman for the State Police Directorate, confirmed to Bild newspaper that the threatening emails, all with identical content, were sent on Sunday and reached schools nationwide, with 12 schools targeted in the German city of Erfurt alone.
Rhineland-Palatinate experienced a “threatening wave” of such threats, with at least 39 schools receiving emails identical to those sent across Germany on Friday. The Eastern state of Saxony reported 25 affected schools, and isolated threats were also reported in North Rhine-Westphalia, Bavaria, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, and Baden-Württemberg
German police say they are taking the threats seriously, despite assessing the risk of actual harm as low. Officers conducted searches at some of the affected schools, looking for any signs that objects could have been placed in the buildings, but so far, no actual bomb has turned up.
While the threats led to immediate responses, 31 schools were quickly given the all-clear. Only four schools experienced delays, interruptions, or cancellations of lessons. At two schools, 10th-grade classes were unable to take their exams, which will now be rescheduled.
The Rhineland-Palatinate State Criminal Police Office stated that their experts do not currently deem the threats credible, but investigations have been launched to carefully examine each one. Sven Teuber (SPD), Rhineland-Palatinate’s Minister of Education, condemned the threats as “hideous attacks on places that are supposed to offer protection, education and cohesion.”
The German Ministry of Education reported no school closures on Monday.
In Neubrandenburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, one school received a threatening email with “typical references to the terrorist organization Islamic State,” although police did not confirm if these references were present in other emails.
In Germany, bomb threats are classified as “disruption of public peace through the threat of crime” under Section 126 of the Criminal Code. Those convicted can face fines or up to five years in prison for serious offenses.
This wave of threats follows a pattern seen in recent months, with schools nationwide receiving similar threatening emails.
A trial is currently underway in Stuttgart against a 20-year-old accused of sending 51 emails to schools, authorities, and religious communities with an accomplice in autumn 2023.
Neighboring countries have also been dealing with such threats, including Hungary, which has dealt with a wave of bomb threats on and off over the last few years.
In addition, Serbia was “paralyzed” when 100 fake bomb threats were sent to schools and even the building housing the official presidency in 2022.
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