In brief
A surge of bomb threats on Nov. 6 cut off over 18 flights across Europe and threatened several media outlets, including Ireland’s RTÉ and Virgin Media. The attacks, part of a putative coordinated campaign, targeted routes to Lisbon, Rome, Prague and Sofia and drew fighter jet escorts. While authorities suspect a coordinated effort, the identity of the perpetrators remains unclear.
Bomb threats on November 6 disrupted more than 18 flights across Europe and threatened several media organisations, including Ireland’s RTÉ, Virgin Media, Newstalk and the Independent.
According to United Press International, the attacks targeted flights to and from Lisbon, Portugal; Rome, Italy; Prague, Czech Republic; and Sofia, Bulgaria, and were described by the Irish government as a coordinated campaign.
The Guardian noted that the Belgian and British news sectors also fell under threat and that three planes were escorted by Hungarian fighter jets, as reported by the BBC.
The Irish prime minister’s office said it was unclear whether the threats came from individuals or a centralised effort, but the repeated occurrences over the week suggest an orchestrated disruption.
Corriere della Sera quoted Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who said the events were “a cause for concern” and linked the threat to recent attacks on blood banks in France, even noting that “when they tell us that the resources committed to defence and security are money taken away from healthcare or hospitals, that’s nonsense”.
The Guardian reported that a group appeared to claim responsibility for the threats, though it could not substantiate the claim and said “This is only the beginning”.
Guardian also reported that the week’s total flight disruptions exceeded half a hundred, with Prague receiving the most threats—nine in all.
The Irish government’s statement said the attacks “come on the heels of the ongoing disruption to aviation around Europe caused by similar threats” and suggested the pattern pointed to a coordinated campaign.
