Shock in Freistadt: 40 bomb threats meet schools nationwide!

Shock in Freistadt: 40 bomb threats meet schools nationwide!

On Monday, June 1, 2025, schools across Austria were targeted by anonymous bomb threats. An alarming event that not only caused the security forces, but also the students concerned and their relatives. According to the Krone , a total of 40 such threats were reported, which caused great concern nationwide.

In Freistadt, the vocational school was searched by 15 police officers after a threat was received on Sunday at 10 p.m. Students were only allowed to enter the school premises after long seven hours at 2:30 p.m. A student anonymously expressed resentment about the situation in an email and pointed out that the students were sent to school without corresponding safety precautions. In particular, he pointed out that they had to endure on the grounds of the army and were insufficiently cared for. The drinking machine was quickly empty and there was only hot tea available. In the meantime, teachers were able to eat and get drinks in the nearby supermarket.

The headmistress, Judith Blaimschein, explained that the impending news was only discovered when the mail mailbox was searched. The army had offered that the students could wait on the covered barracks. There they were allowed to use smoking and cell phones, but filming or photography was prohibited. A positive gesture came in the form of 300 warm meals that the Bundesheer made available, including men's cuts as a dessert.

security measures and legal framework conditions

The action also raises questions about the legal situation. Bomb threats against schools are not cavalier offenses. Such an incident can be seen as a crime that can be punished at up to three years in prison, such as Spiegel.de This could also have a deterrent effect on potential perpetrators.

The circumstances around the long duration of the search were characterized by additional stress. Animal search dogs from Linz arrived late and were already exhausted, which impaired the efficiency of the security measures. In view of these challenges, it is important that both schools and security forces are prepared for such emergencies and keep an eye on the corresponding procedures for student information and for the care of the young people concerned.

It remains to be hoped that such incidents will not become normal and that security concepts will be further developed in order to protect students and teachers in the best possible way.