International schools across Spain close due to bomb threats

By Alyssa McMurtry

OVIEDO, Spain (AA) - At least 18 international schools across Spain have received bomb threats in recent hours, Spanish daily El Mundo reported on Monday.

In the province of Zaragoza, at least four schools were shut down on Monday, according to local daily Heraldo. That includes British, French and other internationally-focused schools.

Police in Zaragoza told Heraldo that all of the schools received a similar email, warning that various bombs and explosive devices were planted around the schools.

The head of the French school Liceo Molière told Heraldo that it is possibly “a bad joke,” though authorities must take it seriously.

In Zaragoza, some centers told parents late Sunday night that classes would be canceled on Monday. At others, like the British school in Aragon, police showed up to evacuate the students after the school day began.

As reported by El Mundo, the schools will not be able to reopen until police inspect the centers to ensure bombs have not been planted.

Schools have also been affected in and around the cities of Pontevedra, Tenerife, Zaragoza, Reus, Tarragona, Villareal and Castellon.