Bomb threats ensure school evacuations in Vienna and Lower Austria!

Bomb threats ensure school evacuations in Vienna and Lower Austria!

On May 26, 2025, several bomb threats against schools were reported in Lower Austria, Upper Austria and Vienna. These threats reached the educational institutions by email from late Sunday evening. In Lower Austria, the threats concerned more than 20 schools, which led to comprehensive security measures.

The schools concerned were evacuated as a precaution and the school was discontinued. The Lower Austrian police work in close cooperation with the educational directorate. Explosive experts and specially trained dogs have been used to examine the buildings, with no dangerous objects have been found so far. Students who could not be picked up by their parents were looked after after the evacuation.

security measures and investigations

In Upper Austria, the threats concentrated in particular at vocational schools, which were also evacuated. The same security measures took place in Vienna, and the police forces carried out searches in the schools concerned. Here, too, no suspicious objects were discovered.

The police have initiated investigations to identify the author of the threatening emails. The authorities also use IT forensicists to trace traces. Parents were asked to keep calm and to show patience, as it remains unclear whether it is serious threats or possibly a false alarm. It was clearly emphasized that such threats are legally punishable, and the police expressly warned of imitation.

context and global perspective

The current incidents in Austria also make a highlight of a larger, global problem. Data show that more than 6,000 attacks on educational institutions were registered worldwide in 2022 and 2023. These attacks were directed not only against schools and universities, but also against students, students and teachers. The United Nations proclaimed September 9th as an International Day to Protect Education from Attack to draw attention to the emergency of the children in conflict areas and to protect the right to education.

The right to education is a fundamental human right that is anchored in Article 26 of the General Declaration of Human Rights. The aim of the Global sustainability goals of the United Nations is to create safe and inclusive educational institutions by 2030. The current bomb threats in Austria are a worrying signal and underline the need to ensure the safety of learners and educational institutions both locally and globally.