An investigation has been launched in Austria after dozens of institutions, mainly schools, received reports of alleged explosive devices. The case is being handled by the Directorate of State Security and Intelligence (DSN).
According to the APA news agency, DSN Director Thomas Hajava-Pirchner stated that over the past three days, more than 50 institutions in at least six federal states have received similar threats. In several instances, schools were evacuated or temporarily closed. None of the bomb threats were confirmed.
The DSN is continuing its investigation and exploring various leads. Preliminary information cited by APA suggests a possible link to an international criminal group.
One theory is that the perpetrators employed a tactic known as “swatting”—deliberate false reports to the police intended to disrupt law enforcement operations and undermine public trust. Investigators are also examining potential connections between these incidents and similar threats in neighboring countries, particularly Germany, and whether the threats may have been generated using artificial intelligence.
