Hoax bomb threats disrupted at least 25 flights across Europe on Thursday, and at least 33 flights over the week. Investigators say there is no evidence yet that a hostile group or state orchestrated them, but the pattern of threats has raised questions over an apparently coordinated effort.
Hoax bomb threats disrupted at least 25 flights across Europe on Thursday, forcing some planes into emergency landings. Questions are mounting over an apparently coordinated effort to cause chaos for travellers.
Threats hit airlines across Europe
The warnings affected flights between Italy, Ireland, the UK, Spain, Bulgaria, Romania, Poland, Finland, Austria, Denmark, Belgium, Portugal, France, Greece, Serbia and Czechia. Ryanair, Aer Lingus, Wizz Air, Finnair, easyJet, Aegean Airlines, Iberia, Sky Express, Air Serbia and LOT Polish Airlines all saw flights affected. All of them landed safely, and searches found nothing suspicious.
Thursday's hoaxes followed similar alerts earlier in the week. On Tuesday, seven planes across Europe were searched or diverted. On Monday a flight from the UK to Bulgaria was diverted. According to Eurocontrol, 27,400 flights were scheduled in Europe on Thursday.
Emails to Rome and Sofia airports name the Male State
Bomb threats emailed to airports in Rome and Sofia were signed by the fighters of the Male State, according to sources at Aeroporti di Roma and a text seen by Agence France-Presse. Male State is a Russian far-right, ultranationalist movement founded in 2016 by Vladislav Pozdnyakov. He did not comment on or claim responsibility for the threats.
However, investigators said there remained no evidence that a hostile terror group or state actor, such as Russia or Iran, orchestrated the hoaxes. Inquiries across Europe continue.
Italian defence minister points to hidden attribution
Asked who was behind the hoaxes, Italian defence minister Guido Crosetto said: "It’s called ‘under-threshold warfare’ because it’s below the attribution threshold."
Meanwhile, Rhys Jones, an analyst at Osprey Flight Solutions, said the threats seemed linked but described a reasonably chaotic campaign with no particular region targeted. He added that simply creating disruption could be regarded as a success by those carrying out the hoaxes.
Source: The Guardian
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