School pupils evacuated after bomb threats at several German schools

School pupils and staff were sent home on Thursday morning after bomb threats were received by email. 

According to police, threats were targeted at schools in Schmölln, Eisenach, Stadtilm, Ilmenau, Friedrichroda, Weimar and Erfurt.

Local broadcaster MDR said schools in Gera and Gotha were also affected. According to a report in the Thüringer Allgemeine newspaper, lessons are already back in session at two schools in Ilmenau after they were evacuated earlier. 

According to police, all of the cases involve an email with identical wording and the same sender address. The emails contain a threat of a bomb, they said.

Earlier in the day, police said they were working at full speed to evacuate affected schools and search them. Several hundred pupils and teachers were evacuated in Erfurt alone.

The emails were discovered by secretarial staff on Thursday morning.

'Taking situation seriously'

There are currently no indications of a dangerous situation, it was reported at midday with regard to the schools in Friedrichroda, Eisenach, Stadtilm and Ilmenau. Lessons are being resumed in some places. Officials also found nothing at the five affected schools in Erfurt.

A police spokesperson said: "We are nevertheless taking the situation seriously. Something like this is not a trivial offence, but a criminal offence."

An investigation is underway for disturbing the public peace by threatening to commit a criminal offence.

There were a series of threats against German schools via email last autumn. At that time, police after searches. 

Many pupils in Germany are still on holiday, but the summer break ended in Thuringia on July 31st.