European TV networks receive bomb threat emails from ‘Mikhail Andropov,’ a name echoing the late Soviet leader
Several European television broadcasters received bomb threats by email on November 6, Reuters reported.
On November 6, European television broadcasters including Irish RTE, Britain’s Sky, and Bulgaria’s Nova TV received bomb threat emails from an unknown source. The sender, who identified himself as Mikhail Andropov – a reference to the late Soviet leader – stated that an explosive device would detonate in 45 minutes if the claims were not publicized.
However, searches of the broadcasters' offices found no actual bombs. As a result, RTE aired music and prerecorded messages for three hours while Nova TV evacuated its newsroom. It remains unclear who was responsible for these hoax threats, which came shortly after similar emails targeting European flights prompted emergency landings and additional security checks at airports.
No explosives were discovered following the threats. European authorities have not publicly identified the individuals behind the hoax. The Italian news agency ANSA reported that the threats were sent under the pseudonym "Fighters of Men's State." Vladislav Pozdnyakov, the founder of the Russian movement Men's State, denied any involvement and stated that the movement had ceased operations in 2021.
The Kremlin has been increasingly engaging in hybrid attacks on the West, aiming to undermine confidence in NATO's security guarantees. So far, these tactics have not been effective.
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