Bomb threats in St. Pölten: schools closed and safety alert!

Bomb threats in St. Pölten: schools closed and safety alert!

On Tuesday, December 17th, several schools in St. Pölten closed their doors due to serious bomb threats. Those affected include all elementary schools, middle schools and the St. Georgen special school. Parents were informed in a timely manner and students had to stay at home at short notice due to these threats meinkreis.at reported. Classes will take place in distance learning on Tuesday and Wednesday while security authorities investigate the affected schools.

The police took the situation seriously and initiated extensive security measures. The threats, which were received via email, are now being investigated by the St. Pölten Criminal Police Service as well as the State Criminal Police Office and the State Office for the Protection of the Constitution and Combating Terrorism. According to police spokesman Raimund Schwaigerlehner, these were “abstract threats” which, however, led to the suspension of face-to-face teaching for security reasons. Parents who cannot organize care for their children have been informed about contact points at schools where temporary care is available, such as oesterreich.ORF.at added.

The current incidents add to a worrying series of similar threats that have recently affected schools in Graz, Linz, Innsbruck, Vienna and Salzburg. These schools were also closed or evacuated, but in none of these cases were hazardous materials found. The situation is tense and security forces are working to clarify the situation and prevent further threats.