Mass Bomb Threats Target Over 200 Schools in Cyprus Amid Extremist Messaging
Executive Summary
On February 11, 2025, over 200 schools across Cyprus received bomb threats via email, claiming allegiance to Islamic extremism and warning of imminent attacks to “conquer Europe” and ensure “Islam will prevail.” The threats, written in Greek, referenced past terror attacks and threatened mass casualties. Authorities immediately evacuated schools and launched an investigation, with preliminary findings tracing the email to Russian IP addresses previously linked to hoaxes targeting European institutions. No explosives have been found so far.
Analysis
This incident marks a significant escalation in psychological warfare targeting European educational institutions. The choice of Greek as the language of the email suggests an intent to directly incite fear within Cyprus, a frontline EU state in migration and geopolitical tensions. The explicit mention of past attacks, such as Sri Lanka’s 2019 Easter bombings, implies an effort to link the threat to established jihadist narratives.
However, the use of Russian IP addresses raises questions about the authenticity of the threat. While extremist groups often use cyber obfuscation techniques, it is also possible that this is a sophisticated false-flag operation meant to exploit existing fears of Islamist terrorism. Russian cybercriminal networks have been known to conduct disruptive hoax operations, particularly targeting Western institutions.
This threat also comes at a time of heightened concerns over radicalization in Europe and ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean. If linked to an actual extremist group, it would indicate a serious operational threat. If proven to be a hoax, it still reflects the growing weaponization of fear as a tactic in hybrid warfare.
