What we know about Europe's latest wave of bomb threats targeting flights — and now newsrooms
A spate of bomb threats across Europe has thrown airports and newsrooms into disarray over the past week, forcing flight diversions and emergency landings while prompting broadcast suspensions and evacuations.
European flights and airports experienced disruption and heightened security on Friday following bomb threats reported in Rome and Copenhagen. WizzAir's flight from Prague to Rome was redirected to Venice due to a bomb scare. Italy's Ansa news agency stated the bomb alert originated from a phone call to Rome Fiumicino Airport's control tower.
Danish police revealed specialist teams were deployed at Copenhagen Airport after receiving hostile intelligence concerning air traffic. Authorities emphasized that there was no immediate threat to passengers and that airport operations were adjusted, including baggage re-screening and the establishment of a special security perimeter.
Czech police officially cleared four aircraft from Vaclav Havel Airport that had been subjected to bomb threats on Thursday. The security inspections concluded without discovering any explosives or dangerous items on any of the planes. At least 25 hoax alerts targeted airlines across Europe on Friday. French police initiated an investigation against an Aer Lingus plane after the pilot resisted diversion orders.
An Airbus A320 traveling from Dublin to Rome was rerouted to the Evreux airbase in northern France due to a bomb alert on November 5, according to the French Prime Minister's office. Irish media outlets, including RTE, were evacuated following bomb threats on Friday. A presenter on one of the affected radio stations, Newstalk, confirmed the calls were deemed a hoax and staff were informed they could return to their central Dublin office.
The Irish Independent newspaper group reported that its offices in Dublin were also evacuated. An RTE radio reporter disclosed that a threat was sent via email earlier that day, warning of a bomb explosion within 45 minutes. The presenter of RTE Radio One's mid-morning news program expressed concern and stated that the threat was taken seriously.
Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin confirmed the seriousness of the threat during a telephone interview with RTE shortly after the disruption to programming ceased. By the end of Thursday, the cumulative count of bomb threats across Europe had reached nearly 30 flights, including at least seven flights and a cruise ship receiving hoax threats on Tuesday.
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