In Cyprus, almost all schools in the country were evacuated. The reason was bomb and death threats from unknown people via email. According to police, there could be an Islamist background.
Unidentified people have announced bomb attacks on numerous Cypriot schools in emails. Threats were made with statements such as “We will cut your necks” and “We will drown you in your blood.” The police classified the message as threats with an Islamist background.
No explosive device has been discovered so far
Police spokesman Christos Andreou confirmed on Cypriot radio that the email was sent to almost all elementary schools and high schools and also some kindergartens. “We carried out the evacuation calmly. No explosive device has been discovered so far,” said Andreou. Many frightened parents took their children out of schools, the media reported.
The email was published in numerous media outlets. The authors referred to Islamic law (Sharia), which according to their understanding calls for the punishment of all unbelievers, it said.
Text in bad Greek
According to police, the threat was written in poor Greek and suggested an online translation. Experts from the security authorities and the Interior Ministry are now trying to find out where the emails were sent from.
It is unclear why Cyprus, of all places, was subjected to such threats. The small EU island republic is home to many Israeli citizens, but also many refugees from the Middle East. Nicosia maintains good connections with both Israel and the Arab world. At the request of the Cypriot government, relief supplies have been repeatedly sent to the Gaza Strip by ship in recent months.