Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has promised to find whoever is responsible. Getty Images
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has promised to find whoever is responsible. Getty Images
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has promised to find whoever is responsible. Getty Images
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has promised to find whoever is responsible. Getty Images

Bomb threats shut scores of schools in Hungary


Tariq Tahir
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More than 240 schools in Hungary have been targeted with bomb threats leading to evacuations across the country, the government has said.

The country’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban has promised authorities will find whoever is responsible for the hoaxes, which were sent in emails to the schools on Thursday morning.

Hungary’s Interior Ministry said “during searches, no explosives or explosive devices were found in the buildings inspected so far”.

Government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs said “at least 20 schools” in the capital Budapest were among those to receive the threats, which were “written in poor Hungarian, likely using Google Translate”.

Mayors around the country announced emergency measures, opening temporary facilities for pupils and teachers unable to return home, said Mr Kovacs. “Meals are being provided, and parents are urged to stay informed and assist where possible.

A school in Budapest is closed after a series of bomb threats on Thursday. AFP
A school in Budapest is closed after a series of bomb threats on Thursday. AFP

“The police confirmed that identical emails were sent to multiple schools and have launched an investigation into the threats under the Penal Code's section on public endangerment. The National Bureau of Investigation is leading the inquiry, with regional units instructed to collaborate urgently.”

Mr Kovacs said the hoaxes “bear an uncanny resemblance to last year's threats on more than 1,000 schools and institutions in Slovakia”.

Last May, emails from an anonymous sender began arriving at 5am one school morning, claiming explosives had been stored in hundreds of schools spanning eight regions of Slovakia, which neighbours Hungary.

Police teams with sniffer dogs and bomb disposal experts were called out repeatedly across the country, including to 110 banks and 40 electrical shops that had also received the bomb threats.

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There are different types of travel available for pets:

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  • Excess luggage in the cabin

Each option is safe. The feasibility of each option is based on the size and breed of your pet, the airline they are traveling on and country they are travelling to.

 

2. What is the difference between my pet traveling as manifest cargo or as excess luggage?

If traveling as manifest cargo, your pet is traveling in the front hold of the plane and can travel with or without you being on the same plane. The cost of your pets travel is based on volumetric weight, in other words, the size of their travel crate.

If traveling as excess luggage, your pet will be in the rear hold of the plane and must be traveling under the ticket of a human passenger. The cost of your pets travel is based on the actual (combined) weight of your pet in their crate.

 

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As soon as the flight arrives, your pet will be taken from the plane straight to the airport terminal.

If your pet is traveling as excess luggage, they will taken to the oversized luggage area in the arrival hall. Once you clear passport control, you will be able to collect them at the same time as your normal luggage. As you exit the airport via the ‘something to declare’ customs channel you will be asked to present your pets travel paperwork to the customs official and / or the vet on duty. 

If your pet is traveling as manifest cargo, they will be taken to the Animal Reception Centre. There, their documentation will be reviewed by the staff of the ARC to ensure all is in order. At the same time, relevant customs formalities will be completed by staff based at the arriving airport. 

 

4. How long does the travel paperwork and other travel preparations take?

This depends entirely on the location that your pet is traveling to. Your pet relocation compnay will provide you with an accurate timeline of how long the relevant preparations will take and at what point in the process the various steps must be taken.

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5. What vaccinations does my pet need to travel?

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Source: Pawsome Pets UAE

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Updated: January 23, 2025, 11:42 AM