More than a dozen schools in the western German city of Duisburg were closed on Monday after receiving far-right threats. A total of 15 secondary schools were shut, affecting around 17,980 pupils, a spokeswoman for the district administration confirmed to dpa.
Signs reading “school closed” were posted at several affected institutions on Monday morning, according to a reporter from dpa who was on the scene.
The closure came after the administration of Gesamtschule Duisburg-Mitte received a threatening letter on Friday containing right-wing extremist statements.
Police said the sender, whose identity remains unknown, threatened to carry out criminal acts at the school on Monday.
On Sunday, the school received a second note containing additional threats, this time targeting other schools in the area.
ALSO READ : Death toll rises to 20 as severe storms cause destruction across the U.S.
Despite the alarming nature of the threats, Duisburg’s state security service considered them to be a hoax, police officials stated.
As a precautionary measure, the affected schools switched to distance learning on Monday.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation while students and staff remain on alert.