Hoax bomb threats target European airlines and airports for second time in a week

Bomb threats targeted 21 European aircraft and airports in a second incident this week, the UK calling it a "malicious hoax." Flights were disrupted in Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, France, Italy, Poland, and Romania. An Aer Lingus flight from Dublin to Rome was diverted to a French air base, while Finnair's Helsinki-Rome flight was escorted by Italian fighter jets.

EasyJet's Newcastle and Glasgow flights were met by police in Prague as a precaution. London Heathrow and Birmingham airports received threats assessed as not credible. No explosives were found during searches. The threats, claimed by the obscure group "Fighters of the Male State," claimed to target a "feminist regime" and wanted to "make our mark on history."

The group, likely referring to the ultra-right Russian organization "Muzhskoi Legion," had seen a surge in followers during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. However, the email threat, even if authentic, may not yield crucial leads for authorities. UK Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander described the incidents as "malicious hoax threats," while the government stressed its commitment to dealing with such incidents.