All comprehensive and secondary schools in Duisburg will remain closed on Monday due to threats of violence. Thousands of pupils are affected after threatening e-mails announced a “purge” and acts of violence.
Source: Apollo News, Editorial Team, 07 Apr 2025
All comprehensive and secondary schools in Duisburg will remain closed next Monday after the authorities received threatening emails on Friday and Sunday. These emails announced a “purge” and held out the prospect of acts of violence at schools. This was reported by the Bild newspaper.
The threats led to the closure of at least 13 schools. It is not yet clear why these schools in particular have been affected. A message to parents stated: “Due to a current threat situation, which we have been informed of by the responsible authorities, in-person lessons at our school will be cancelled tomorrow. This measure affects all secondary and comprehensive schools in the city of Duisburg”. Lessons will continue digitally and practicals for year 9 will take place as planned.
Duisburg has a total of 15 comprehensive schools and two secondary schools. It is not yet known why exactly these school types are at the centre of the threat. Thousands of pupils are affected by the closure. It is forbidden to enter the school grounds.
In March 2025, amok threats at two high schools in Duisburg had already led to large-scale police operations. At the Steinbart-Gymnasium and the St. Hildegardis-Gymnasium, writings were found in girls’ toilets announcing criminal offences for 24 and 25 March. Three schoolgirls were identified by the police as suspects.
