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Chronology of Bomb Threats: From Schools to Shopping Centers, Zagreb Issues Statement
๐Ÿ‡ญ๐Ÿ‡ท Croatia /Culture & Society

Chronology of Bomb Threats: From Schools to Shopping Centers, Zagreb Issues Statement

From Veฤernji List · (10m ago) Croatian Critical tone

Translated from Croatian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • A wave of bomb threats has led to the evacuation of numerous schools and public buildings across Croatia, including Zagreb, Split, and Rijeka.
  • The threats, sent via brutal emails intended to cause panic, have been investigated by police, who have confirmed they are false.
  • Croatian authorities are collaborating with international agencies like Europol to trace the origin of the emails, which are sent from foreign IP addresses.

Zagreb, Croatia โ€“ The city of Zagreb, along with other Croatian cities, is grappling with a disturbing wave of bomb threats that have disrupted daily life and instilled fear, particularly among schoolchildren. These threats, which began in mid-April, have escalated, forcing the evacuation of schools, public offices, and even shopping centers. The perpetrators, using brutal language in emails designed to maximize panic, have targeted educational institutions and public spaces, causing significant disruption.

We were writing a physics test when they told us we had to leave immediately. At first, we didn't even understand what was happening, it was shocking.

โ€” StudentsStudents at the Second Gymnasium describe the moment they were evacuated due to a bomb threat.

The city of Zagreb has strongly condemned these acts, emphasizing the intent to sow unrest among children and disrupt education. Authorities are working closely with the police and the Ministry of Science, Education, and Youth to manage the situation. While all threats investigated so far have proven to be false, the psychological impact on students and the community is undeniable. The city's statement highlights the seriousness with which these threats are treated, despite their falsity, and expresses hope for the swift apprehension of those responsible.

We hope that this time too it will turn out that the reports are false, but we remind you that false threats are also a criminal offense and we expect the perpetrators to be discovered as soon as possible.

โ€” City of ZagrebThe City of Zagreb condemns the threats and expresses hope for swift identification of perpetrators.

This series of threats is not isolated to Zagreb; similar incidents have occurred in Split and Rijeka, affecting numerous schools. The scale of the problem is significant, with the Minister of the Interior confirming around a hundred false reports nationwide in recent days. The investigation has revealed that the emails originate from foreign IP addresses, prompting collaboration with international law enforcement agencies, including Europol and US authorities. While the immediate danger may be averted by the false nature of the threats, the persistent disruption and the underlying intent to cause fear remain a grave concern for Croatian society.

None of the threats received so far have been real, but we take every one seriously.

โ€” Davor Boลพinoviฤ‡Croatia's Minister of the Interior addresses the ongoing bomb threats.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Veฤernji List in Croatian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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