A wave of bomb threat hoaxes targeting flights, airports and broadcasters across Europe has triggered emergency landings, flight diversions and evacuations over the past week, disrupting travel and forcing news organisations to suspend operations.
No explosives have been found and all affected aircraft have landed safely. However, the growing number of threats has raised concerns about the potential disruption if the incidents continue.
It remains unclear whether the threats are connected. They come amid a series of other disruptions across Europe, including cyberattacks targeting supermarket refrigeration systems and drone incursions that have raised security concerns among Nato members.
Here is what we know about the incidents:
When Did The Threats Begin?
The latest wave of threats targeting European aise
The latest wave of threats targeting European aise ship received bomb warnings that were later found to be hoaxes
The threats prompted emergency landings, fighter jet escorts and temporary airport closures in Poland, Bulgaria, Italy and Spain.
Passengers go trough security at Leonardo da Vinci International Airport near Rome after a flight from Dublin to Rome was diverted to France amid reports of bomb threats.
A second wave followed on Thursday, affecting at least 27 flights across Europe.
Prague’s Vaclav Havel Airport said on Friday
Prague’s Vaclav Havel Airport said on Friday that nine flights had received threats. These included incoming services from Denmark, Spain and the UK, as well as departing flights to the Netherlands, Cyprus, Romania, Italy and the UK.
The incidents forced airlines and airport authorities to carry out security checks and make changes to flight operations.
Why Are News Broadcasters Being Targeted?
The threats have since extended beyond aing emails warning of possible bomb attacks on Friday
The messages were sent to Irish public broadcaster
The messages were sent to Irish public broadcaster RTÉ and Bulgaria’s Nova TV by someone using the name “Mikhail Andropov”.
Headlined “Message to the West”, the emails claimed responsibility for a widening campaign of threats targeting passenger flights across Europe. They also portrayed the incidents as a prelude to further attacks on transport networks.
RTÉ evacuated its offices and suspended programming while security checks were carried out. British broadcaster Sky also confirmed that it had received a security threat.
Reuters said it had been unable to establish
Reuters said it had been unable to establish the sender’s identity, the origin of the emails or whether they came from the same
How Are The Threats Communicated?
Bomb threats involving aircraft are commonly delivered through anonymous emails or telephone calls to airlines, airports or security authorities, claiming that an explosive device is on board.
Authorities do not always disclose the precise methods used to communicate such threats, partly to prevent copycat incidents and avoid compromising investigations.
A representative of Prague Airport told CNN
A representative of Prague Airport told CNN that it had received an anonymous email warning of a bomb. Czech police said similar messages had been sent to other European airports.
Eric Schouten, head of acurity department initially assesses a threat against an established checklist before alerting the authorities
Depending on the assessment, security agencies may scramble fighter jets or divert an aircraft to a designated airport, where it undergoes a detailed inspection.
What Are The Security Risks?
Although most bomb threats eventually prove to be
Although most bomb threats eventually prove to be false alarms, authorities are required to treat them seriously until investigations establish that there is no danger.
No explosives have been discovered on any of the aircraft targeted in the latest incidents.
A spokesperson for the British government described the warnings as “malicious hoax threats” and said the country had “one of the most robust a
Security experts say the apparent scale and co-ordination
Security experts say the apparent scale and co-ordination of the latest incidents are unusual, even though airlines and airports regularly deal with bomb threats.
Who Is Behind The Threats?
Authorities have yet to identify those responsible or establish whether the incidents are connected. There is also no evidence so far linking the threats to any government or state actor.
The incidents come amid growing concerns among European governments about alleged Russian hybrid operations, which officials say involve disruptive activities that are relatively inexpensive to carry out, difficult to attribute and unlikely to trigger a direct military response.
Denmark, Poland and Romania are among the countries
Denmark, Poland and Romania are among the countries that have previously accused Moscow of involvement in such activities. Russia has denied the allegations.
On Thursday, an airport and Milan had received bomb threats claiming to be from “fighters of the Male State”, a far-right anti-feminist movement that has been banned in Russia
Vladislav Pozdnyakov, the Russian blogger who founded Male State in 2016, said the group no longer existed and had no involvement in the threats.
How Have Airlines Been Affected?
Despite the number of warnings, the overall impact on European ahority
However, even an unsubstantiated threat can cause significant disruption to individual flights and passengers.
Aircraft may have to change course or land
Aircraft may have to change course or land at alternative airports, while security inspections can delay departures and disrupt subsequent services.
The checks generally involve disembarking passengers, unloading baggage and searching the aircraft before allowing people to board again.
Schouten said the process could also push flight crews beyond their permitted duty hours, potentially resulting in missed connections and cancellations.
Airlines must also deal with additional costs arising
Airlines must also deal with additional costs arising from fuel consumption, aircraft diversions, passenger rebookings and crew scheduling.
Air France-KLM chief executive Ben Smith said on Thursday that he had never previously encountered threats being reported in such a co-ordinated manner. “We’re quite confident that we have in place what we need to ensure that it has minimal or no impact on our operation,” Smith told reporters. “So we have no ask today of our governments to change the way they manage these types of situations,” he added.
Rounak is a journalist with over 7 years of experience covering geopolitical and international affairs. He has a keen interest in research and explain… View More
Source: www.timesnownews.com
