The false threats disrupted several commercial flights, including a Prague-to-Rome route diverted to Venice and an aircraft forced down in France, though searches confirmed no explosives were on board. European authorities are analyzing the source of the messages, including a Rome threat traced to an email address associated with Bogota's state health services. High-profile Irish media organizations also faced evacuations, prompting government officials to suspect a coordinated campaign. Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto warned that these incidents match hybrid tactics meant to stoke European tensions.
Key points
European security officials are treating the hoax bomb warnings as a potential coordinate…: European security officials are treating the hoax bomb warnings as a potential coordinated campaign to provoke broad instability.
Searches of all impacted commercial aircraft confirmed that no explosives were present de…: Searches of all impacted commercial aircraft confirmed that no explosives were present despite the widespread operational disruption.
Representatives tied to Vladislav Pozdnyakov insisted the extremist organization is defun…: Representatives tied to Vladislav Pozdnyakov insisted the extremist organization is defunct and rejected accusations linking it to the threats.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
- Published
The "Male State", an extremist misogynistic group named in this week's hoax bomb threats to Italian airports, has denied any link to the false warnings causing flight disruption across Europe.
The comments to the BBC came as reports of more bomb scares to airlines began appearing, including on a Ryanair flight from Rome to Lisbon and a Wizz Air flight from Prague to Rome which was diverted to Venice.
Bomb threats were also reported to a number of high-profile Irish media organisations on Friday, prompting evacuations and a statement from the Irish government suggesting a "co-ordinated campaign of disruption".
Replying to the BBC Russian Service, an account on Telegram - one of several linked to the so-called "Male State" and its founder Vladislav Pozdnyakov - mocked any suggestion the group was involved in emailing the threats.
"What Male State? Where have you seen it? It hasn't existed for many years," the message on the channel reads. "If tomorrow they sign a [threat] letter, say, from Putin, will you then try to reach our president to ask your stupid…
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