Someone Is Causing Chaos Across Europe. The Question Is: Who?
Authorities are scrambling to figure out the source of a series of bomb threats and hacks that diverted aircraft and led to the evacuation of media outlets.
A wave of cyberattacks and bomb threats has shaken Europe this week, leaving officials and business leaders uncertain about the perpetrator. Initially, supermarkets disposed of bags of meatballs and mozzarella after hackers tampered with freezers, causing produce to spoil. The following day, bomb threats were sent to airports and airlines across the continent.
By Friday, hackers had even gained access to blood banks in France, with claims of explosives on board 50 flights and similar bomb hoaxes sent to media groups, including Britain’s Sky News. Newsrooms in Ireland evacuated as a result.
No country or group has claimed responsibility so far, though efforts to identify the source have intensified. Spain's foreign minister, José Manuel Albares, suggested the campaign could constitute "hybrid aggression and psychological warfare." Russia has been suspected, despite consistently denying involvement. Last year, Europe blamed Russia for several attacks on European soil, including drone explosions in Germany.
Suspicions of Russian involvement have grown after the Kremlin, Russian foreign ministry, and embassies in Europe denied responsibility. In August, drones carrying explosives were flown into a German cargo airport in Leipzig but failed to detonate, with U.S. intelligence officials alleging the attack was part of a broader sabotage campaign ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
European leaders have also experienced an uptick in sabotage attempts against drone factories, commercial ships, and Starlink stations in various European countries.
A potential clue may lie in an email sent to Rome Fiumicino Airport early Thursday, referencing a Russian fringe ultranationalist group called the "Male State." The email falsely claimed that explosive devices were placed on two flights en route to the Italian capital. However, the group's founder, Vladislav Pozdnyakov, denied any involvement, stating the organization was disbanded after a 2021 court ruling.
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