On Monday, 19 October 2026, more than 70 educational institutions across Hungary received warnings of a bomb threat. An unknown sender emailed several Hungarian media outlets claiming that explosive devices had been planted in schools. The message began with the words “Today is the day of revenge” and contained a list of schools. The author warned that the explosions would supposedly take place between 10:00 and 12:00.
Police immediately began checks of the affected institutions, and in several cases, schools were evacuated. As of Monday afternoon, no explosives or devices suitable for detonation had been found in any of the buildings inspected.
The National Investigation Office opened a criminal case on the grounds of a threat to commit a terrorist act. Investigators are also checking a possible link between these messages and similar incidents that occurred on 15 October, when several schools in Budapest had already received comparable threats. Police stressed that the threat of a terrorist act is a serious crime punishable by imprisonment for a term of two to eight years and called on anyone with information to contact the NNI.
Interior Minister Gábor Pósfai stated that, based on the checks carried out at that time, the threats proved to be unfounded. He emphasised that the safety of children and teachers remains a priority, and that the police are doing everything necessary to restore normal order in schools as soon as possible and to establish the circumstances of the incident.
Similar reports of bomb threats were also received on Monday by educational institutions in Serbia (including in Belgrade and Subotica), Romania, and the United Kingdom (in Northern Ireland and Scotland).
The investigation continues.
