More than a dozen flights in Europe receive bomb threats that an official calls ‘malicious’ hoaxes
MILAN (AP) — Bomb threats targeted more than a dozen flights in Europe on Thursday, leading to a slew of emergency landings and military escorts in some cases, authorities said. So far, no hazardous or suspicious materials have been found in what a British official called “malicious” hoaxes.
Several similar threats targeted planes earlier this week, prompting searches and diversions.
While fake bomb threats are not uncommon, it is unusual to see so many in a single day, causing widespread disruptions. They come at a time of increased geopolitical tensions and warnings from authorities that Russia may be ramping up so-called hybrid threats in Europe. The continent has experienced a slew of other disruptions recently, such as attacks on supermarket refrigeration systems, drone incursions and mysterious triggers to alert apps.
It was not known whether this week’s threats were linked — and who was behind them remained murky.
An email containing the threat to Rome-bound planes was sent on behalf of a group that describes itself as anti-feminist, according to a copy provided by an airport official and reviewed by the AP. An official from another European airport said the threat they received also came from a group calling itself anti-feminist, and used some of the same language. It was not clear if they were the same groups. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to share the information.
Several similar threats targeted planes earlier this week, prompting searches and diversions.
While fake bomb threats are not uncommon, it is unusual to see so many in a single day, causing widespread disruptions. They come at a time of increased geopolitical tensions and warnings from authorities that Russia may be ramping up so-called hybrid threats in Europe. The continent has experienced a slew of other disruptions recently, such as attacks on supermarket refrigeration systems, drone incursions and mysterious triggers to alert apps.
It was not known whether this week’s threats were linked — and who was behind them remained murky.
An email containing the threat to Rome-bound planes was sent on behalf of a group that describes itself as anti-feminist, according to a copy provided by an airport official and reviewed by the AP. An official from another European airport said the threat they received also came from a group calling itself anti-feminist, and used some of the same language. It was not clear if they were the same groups. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to share the information.
31-35, F
