Europeupdated 1h ago2 min read
European Agencies Investigate Russia-Linked Hoax Bomb Threats Targeting Airlines and Media
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European intelligence agencies investigate whether hoax threats originated in Russia. Male State group denies links to threats; investigators assess Russian origin.
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Hoax threats across Europe
European intelligence services worked to determine whether a coordinated wave of bomb threats targeting European airlines and media organizations this week originated in Russia, according to the Financial Times. The threats led to rerouting of aircraft, escort by fighter jets, and evacuations and searches across the continent, and authorities reported no explosives were found. The campaign began last Tuesday, and by Friday evening about 50 flights were affected by claims of bombs on board, alongside similar false reports reaching media organizations including Sky News in Britain.
An email received early Thursday by the Rome airport operator referred to a marginal extremist Russian nationalist group, and the message identified two planes en route to the Italian capital, including a flight from Helsinki operated by Finnair and another from Dublin operated by Aer Lingus. Vladislav Bozdnyakov denied that his group was behind the events, telling The Wall Street Journal that "someone is using this name for malicious purposes."
Male State denial and investigation
"Male State", an extremist misogynistic group named in this week's hoax bomb threats, denied any link to the false warnings causing flight disruption across Europe.
An initial hoax email seen by the BBC was sent on Thursday at 07:21 with the subject title "warning of a threat," and it was addressed to offices and individuals at Aeroporti di Roma (ADR) and accounts at Fiumicino airport.
A Telegram message mocked any suggestion the group was involved, saying, "What Male State? Where have you seen it? It hasn't existed for many years," and the message added that the group had not existed for many years.
No explosives were found on either plane that received bomb threats, and the warnings were described as extremely unusual for the Rome airport operator source.
Italy’s defence minister Guido Crosetto warned of a "strategy to increase chaos," linking the pattern of incidents to a "hybrid threat" to Europe.
No explosives were found on either plane that received bomb threats, and it described the warnings as extremely unusual for the Rome airport operator source.
Attribution doubts and next steps
Several security agencies in Europe were investigating whether the false bomb threats this week against European airlines may have originated in Russia, while sources stressed that there was still a long way to go before accurately attributing responsibility. Dozens of planes remained on the ground after anonymous emails warned of bombs on aircraft flying between European cities, and no explosives had been found on the aircraft affected by the false emails. Some members of the European intelligence community trusted that Russia was the most likely culprit given the method used, precedents, and initial forensic clues.
Security experts were scheduled to meet in Brussels next week to discuss measures to address the false alarms, and the European air traffic authority insisted the threats caused only a minimal disruption to aviation. Dutch military police arrested a man Thursday night at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport in connection with a threat against a flight set to depart for Prague, and the plane flew to Prague later that same night.