Italy school threats spark panic among students and parents

A wave of alarming and violent messages circulating on WhatsApp and Telegram has caused widespread panic among students, parents, and teachers across several Italian regions, including Marche and Tuscany. The messages, which include threats of stabbings, sexual violence, and organized attacks, have targeted various schools in cities such as Ancona, Macerata, and Grosseto.

In Grosseto, educators report that the phenomenon, previously seen mostly in high schools, is now affecting middle school students under the age of 14. These unverified messages and violent screenshots are generating significant anxiety and fear among younger children. In Ancona, specific schools such as Savoia Benincasa, Istvas, Galilei, Itis, and Rinaldi have been mentioned in the threatening communications.

Law enforcement agencies, including the Postal Police and Digos, are investigating the origins of these messages. Experts, including Giuseppe Lavenia, president of the Order of Psychologists of Marche, have noted that such threats aim to exert power through fear and disrupt the fundamental sense of security required for students to attend school. Lavenia emphasized the need for increased investment in school psychology to help families and students manage the resulting psychological impact.