Schools in at least six Argentine provinces, including Tucumán, Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Mendoza, Neuquén and Tierra del Fuego, reported graffiti threats of shootings in bathrooms over the last 72 hours. Authorities deployed police operations and activated safety protocols while investigating a possible viral social media challenge. No threats materialized into violent incidents.
More than ten schools in six provinces detected intimidating messages such as “Mañana 15/4 tiroteo, no vengan” or “Mañana tiroteo” written in bathrooms and walls. In Tucumán, Colegio Guillermina and Colegio San Francisco reported threats for April 15, prompting Police Chief Joaquín Girvau to confirm police presence and notification to the prosecutor's office. “We have an official communication from another school where graffiti appeared. We already have police personnel and contact has been made with each director. Mainly, to bring tranquility,” Girvau said.
In Buenos Aires, Escuela N°26 in Villa Elisa showed “Mañana 15/04 tiroteo, el que arriesga que venga,” while in Córdoba, IPEM 142 Joaquín V. González in La Falda and other interior schools registered similar messages. Mendoza reported a threat in Escuela 4-143 El Algarrobal in Las Heras for April 16, with a mother telling Radio Aconcagua: “How am I going to bring my daughter, the threat says there will be a school shooting on the 16th of the 4th.” Protocols were also activated in Neuquén and Tierra del Fuego.
Security forces suspect a TikTok viral challenge or influence from digital subcultures promoting violence, amid the recent attack at Escuela N°40 Mariano Moreno in San Cristóbal, Santa Fe, where the attacker was part of nihilistic online communities. In Tucumán, Governor Osvaldo Jaldo signed a decree to toughen penalties, including possible expulsions and parental responsibility.
Although classes continued normally in most cases, some parents withdrew their children and surveillance was reinforced to prevent escalations.
