Bomb threats disrupt seven flights across Europe
At least seven flights across Europe were targeted by bomb threats on November 3, disrupting airport operations in Poland, Bulgaria, Italy and Spain, although searches found no explosives.
Warsaw airport briefly closes after flight diversion
A LOT Polish Airlines flight from London, bound for Warsaw Chopin Airport, was diverted to nearby Warsaw Modlin Airport. Authorities temporarily closed Modlin while they inspected the aircraft, but reopened it after finding no explosive device on board.
Another threatened flight, operated by Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) from Copenhagen to Warsaw, landed as scheduled at Chopin Airport. Security checks found no explosives, and the airport continued operating normally.
Threats target flights to Sofia
Bomb threats were also reported against aircraft travelling from Milan/Bergamo and Dublin to Sofia, Bulgaria's Transport Ministry said in a statement.
Both planes landed safely, and subsequent inspections found no explosive devices. The Wizz Air flight from Bergamo was carrying 176 passengers, while the Ryanair service from Dublin had 186 passengers on board.
BTA, Bulgaria's state news agency, had earlier quoted an Interior Ministry official as saying that a flight from Israel had also been targeted. Authorities subsequently clarified that the information was incorrect.
A day earlier, a Wizz Air flight from London to Sofia had been diverted to Budapest following a similar bomb threat, Hungarian Defence Minister Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi said in a Facebook post.
Ryanair flights trigger security alerts in Spain and Italy
In Murcia, southeastern Spain, authorities cordoned off several areas of the airport on Tuesday after a bomb threat was reported aboard a Ryanair flight from Manchester.
Officials later confirmed that the alert was a hoax. The airport resumed normal operations after security teams inspected the aircraft and found no explosives. Ryanair did not immediately comment.
Two other Ryanair aircraft, arriving from Lisbon and Dublin, were inspected at Rome's Fiumicino Airport following bomb threats, a source at airport operator ADR said.
The Italian Air Force escorted the Dublin flight until it landed. Authorities subsequently lifted the alert, and the airport continued operating normally without affecting other flights, the source said.
European authorities face growing concerns over hybrid threats
No individual or organisation has claimed responsibility for the bomb threats, and authorities have not identified any potential perpetrators.
The incidents come amid growing concerns among European officials over what they describe as “hybrid attacks” and acts of sabotage allegedly involving Russia and Iran. Moscow and Tehran deny involvement in such campaigns.
Earlier this week, unidentified hackers disrupted refrigeration systems in supermarkets across several European countries.
Some experts have suggested that the false bomb threats could fit a broader pattern of low-cost, disruptive operations designed to cause widespread disruption while allowing those responsible to deny involvement.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
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