Schools in Hauts-de-France targeted by attack threats

The author of the threats claims to be from the Islamic State. The rectorate announces the establishment of “a protocol”.

Several educational establishments in the Amiens academy received threats of attack after the hacking of their digital work spaces (ENT), during the night from Friday to Saturday, the rectorate told France Bleu Picardie on Saturday March 23, confirming information from Courrier Picard.

The message sent to students and teachers, by a person claiming to be from the Islamic State, mentions attacks against 122 establishments and threatens action on Monday, according to the document consulted by France Bleu Picardie. “In connection with the three prefectures [Aisne, Oise et Somme] and the police, the rectorate has put in place a protocol and communicated this morning to all of its heads of establishments regarding the procedure to follow. Complaints will be filed,” explains the Amiens rectorate.

In the Somme department, three high schools and two middle schools are concerned. The five establishments concerned are located in Amiens, Abbeville and Doullens. “Access to ENT accounts has been suspended until further notice”, indicates the Somme prefecture. The heads of establishments and the rectorate filed a complaint. Schools will open on Monday “in reinforced security conditions”further indicates the department prefecture.

A “particularly aggressive and threatening” message

Regarding the threat of an attack on Monday, “each situation is managed on a case-by-case basis thanks to prefecture/police/gendarmerie/establishment coordination, in conjunction with the DSDEN [Direction des services départementaux de l’Éducation nationale] and the rectorate”, assures this same source. Jean-Philippe Vicentini, Amiens public prosecutor, has been notified and is monitoring the situation.

“It is a message whose content is particularly aggressive and threatening”, confirms Brendan Chabannes, teacher in the Somme and representative of the Sud Education union. He received this threatening message on his ENT. “For several months, we have had a certain number of bomb threats in establishments throughout the territory and also in Hauts-de-France. he explains.

“Unfortunately we are starting to get used to receiving this type of content.”

Brendan Chabannes, representative of the Sud Education union

at franceinfo

He adds that teachers are “obviously on the alert”. The trade unionist hopes for rapid communication to the entire educational community and better security of digital work spaces.

French high schools were also targeted, Thursday and Friday, by messages of a terrorist nature. Prime Minister Gabriel Attal promised to “hunt down” the perpetrators of this type of threat, and ensures that “everything is being done to find the author(s) of these threats and punish them most severely”. A safety meeting “150 to 200” establishments qualified as “especially at risk” was announced for April 4.