Bomb threats targeting European passenger flights spread to news organisations on Friday, November 6, extending a week of disruption that prompted diversions, security checks and fighter-jet escorts.
Irish public broadcaster RTÉ evacuated its offices after receiving a threatening email. Bulgaria’s Nova TV also received a message, while Sky reported a security threat. Reuters said it could not establish the sender’s identity or confirm that the messages came from the same source as the threats to aircraft.
A Wizz Air flight from Prague to Rome diverted to Venice, while Hungarian fighter jets escorted threatened airliners through Hungarian airspace.
No explosive devices had been found in the incidents covered by the Reuters report, and the affected aircraft had landed safely. A threat requiring a safety response is not evidence that a bomb was aboard.
The alerts followed earlier waves on Tuesday and Thursday. Officials have raised the possibility of a coordinated campaign, while specialists caution that copycats could account for some incidents. Reuters overview.
Claims made in threatening emails should therefore be distinguished from investigators’ findings. A name or group label in a message does not establish who sent it, and the available reporting does not prove that every incident is connected.
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