Bomb threats and cyberattacks have hit a number of European countries within days. Supermarkets, air travel, healthcare services, power plants, companies and newsrooms have all been affected. Italy and much of the continent are facing a situation of this scale and intensity for the first time.
Further bomb alerts were reported today on several European flights and at the offices of several Irish media outlets. Governments and intelligence agencies across Europe are watching developments with concern, while experts believe the series of threats and attacks may still be in its early stages.
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Ryanair alert on flight from Rome to Lisbon
The morning of November 6 brought another bomb alert, this time aboard a Ryanair flight from Rome to Lisbon. After the plane landed at Humberto Delgado Airport in the Portuguese capital at approximately 8:00 a.m. local time, authorities began investigating the threat.
Initial information indicates that Portugal’s Public Security Police (PSP) had been notified by telephone by an agent. His identity was later confirmed by the Judicial Police. At the time of reporting, no information had been made public about the outcome of the checks or any measures affecting passengers and crew.
Just one day earlier, threats that proved to be false had affected at least 25 flights in various European countries. They led to route changes, delays and extraordinary checks, while in some cases military aircraft were scrambled.
Threatening message targets two flights bound for Italy
Employees of Aeroporti di Roma and a private air logistics company had also received a threat by email.
The senders accused the recipients of complicity in a criminal plot and said they intended to exterminate them for that reason. The same message claimed that explosive devices had been placed aboard flights AY1751 from Helsinki to Italy and EI402 from Dublin to Italy.
The alert prompted a response from the Postal Police and the Airport Border Police (Polaria). At the same time, the Italian Air Force scrambled fighter jets to intercept and check the flights named in the warning. Although the threat proved unfounded, other incidents reported during the day heightened the authorities’ concern.
Wizz Air flight to Rome lands in Venice
A Wizz Air flight from Prague to Rome was also caught up in the bomb alerts. According to preliminary information, the control tower at Fiumicino Airport received an anonymous call claiming there was an explosive device on board.
The plane had been due to arrive in the Italian capital at around 11:00 a.m., but it was diverted and landed in Venice. After landing, police searched and inspected the aircraft.
Meanwhile, Czech police said they had opened investigations into threats against several aircraft departing from Prague or arriving at its airport. According to the airport authority, the bomb alerts affected at least eight departing or arriving flights.
The British newspaper The Guardian reported a statement from Czech police saying that the necessary security measures had been implemented in coordination with Prague Airport. According to police, the impact on the airport’s normal operations was minimal, and the investigation was continuing.
Threats at Copenhagen Airport investigated
In Denmark, Copenhagen Airport also faced new alerts concerning air traffic safety. Danish police said they had responded at the airport and begun investigating the threats received.
In their initial assessment, police said neither passengers nor anyone else at the airport was in danger or had previously been at risk. Authorities said the investigation was continuing and that police officers had a visible presence at the airport.
Irish newsrooms evacuated, RTE interrupts programming
The wave of bomb threats also reached several media outlets in Ireland. The warnings forced staff to leave their newsrooms and broadcasts to be interrupted.
On Friday morning, RTE Radio One stopped its “Today With David McCullagh” programme and replaced it with music. Staff were evacuated from the Donnybrook campus, while similar measures were taken at Newstalk Radio, Today FM, Virgin Media and the Irish Independent newspaper.
The threatening email had arrived before 9:00 a.m. and warned of an explosion within 45 minutes. Police arrived with dogs trained to detect explosives. Radio One resumed its regular broadcast at 10:13 a.m.
European authorities are focusing their efforts on identifying the source of the threats and determining whether the incidents are connected. Meanwhile, the safety of flights, critical infrastructure and public institutions remains a major concern in several countries across the continent.
