Two high school students suspected of being the authors of several bomb threats within their respective institutions will appear before judges in the spring, as announced by the prosecutors of Bordeaux and Mont-de-Marsan on March 31st. In Bordeaux, a 16-year-old student has been referred to the juvenile court on June 6th for “death threats” and “insult based on origin, ethnicity, nationality, race or religion”, according to the public prosecutor, Frédérique Porterie. He is suspected of sending several threats and bomb alerts to teachers and staff at his Bordeaux high school via email, signing them with mentions of “Al Qaïda”, “Daesh”, or “Warrior of Daesh”. The student admitted to the facts during the investigation, attributing them to his lack of motivation to go to class, while denying any intention to carry out the threats.
The suspect in the Landes, an 18-year-old student with mild mental retardation, is described as having a strong immaturity and isolation within his professional school with no signs of radicalization. He is believed to be responsible for multiple bomb threats in January and March, sending his threats from his phone out of fear of being caught. The young man has been placed under judicial supervision and will appear before the criminal court on May 2nd for making false bomb threats. Since last week, over 150 schools in twenty academic institutions have been targeted with bomb threats transmitted through digital platforms, according to the Ministry of National Education. A 17-year-old teenager in Paris has been charged and detained in connection with the investigations into these threats.
In response to these incidents, the Minister of National Education, Nicole Belloubet, announced the suspension of messaging services in digital platforms and the creation of a national “mobile school force” that can be deployed to schools in case of emergencies. These incidents highlight the challenges faced by education institutions in dealing with cyber threats and fake threats. Measures are being taken to address these issues and protect students and staff from potential harm. The consequences of these actions can have serious implications for the safety and well-being of individuals within the school community.
It is important for authorities to investigate and prosecute individuals responsible for making false bomb threats and causing disruptions within educational institutions. The impact of such incidents goes beyond the immediate disruption to daily activities, causing fear and uncertainty within the school community. By holding perpetrators accountable for their actions, it sends a message that such behavior will not be tolerated and will be met with legal consequences. Efforts to enhance security measures and response protocols are also essential to ensure the safety of students and staff in the face of potential threats. Through collaboration between law enforcement, educational institutions, and relevant stakeholders, effective strategies can be developed to prevent and address such incidents in the future.
