Following yesterday’s dozens of bomb scares, another day of high alert: a Ryanair flight from Rome bound for Lisbon landed in the Portuguese capital, where it was cleared of any danger. The Prague–Rome Wizzair flight, meanwhile, was diverted to Venice following an anonymous call. From there, dozens of scares followed in quick succession. The newsrooms of several media outlets in Dublin were also evacuated. The email claiming responsibility is signed by “one of the leaders of the group responsible for the threats of attacks against aircraft in Europe over the past week”. But the “Stato maschile” account replies: “It wasn’t us”. Meanwhile, the Anti-Mafia Prosecutor's Office in Rome and the Counter-Terrorism Office in Milan have opened case files.
- ‘Fighters of the Male State’ – a signature designed to throw investigators off the trail
- The mystery of the pilot hijacked in France: he did not want to land; the prosecutor’s office is investigating
- Flight alerts: the inevitable escalation of a strategy of fear against which we have no defences
National Anti-Mafia and Counter-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office investigates bomb scares
The district offices, under the coordination of the National Anti-Mafia and Counter-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office, are investigating the threats and bomb scares that have caused disruption to several flights involving Italian airports. The National Cybersecurity Agency has therefore sent reports on the cases relating to the cyber incidents of recent days to the Anti-Mafia Prosecutor’s Office.
Salvini: “It would be problematic if the bomb scares were to continue”
On the bomb scares, Matteo Salvini, Minister for Transport, stated that he had “asked the intelligence services for information; we in the transport sector are also being affected. “There have been no findings and they are investigating the origin of these emails; fortunately, these are all unfounded alerts, but they risk having repercussions in terms of cancellations and fear,” the minister explained. He added that “if this were to continue for a few more days, it would be problematic”.
EU: meeting of safety experts from member states scheduled for next week
“Next week, safety experts from the Member States will meet again in Brussels to assess the situation and discuss the measures that may be necessary.” This was stated by the Commissioner for Transport, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, in a statement following his visit to Eurocontrol, the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation, a civil and military intergovernmental body. “The European Commission is ready to support this effort and contribute to the best possible coordination,
” the Commissioner continued. “Our priority here is clear: passenger safety and the smooth functioning of European aviation.”
Bomb scares: Rome Public Prosecutor’s Office launches an investigation
The Rome Public Prosecutor’s Office has launched an investigation into the bomb scares at Fiumicino Airport. The case, opened at the Rome prosecutors' office, concerns the offence of causing a false alarm, currently against persons unknown. Specialists from the Polaria unit are working on the case, alongside the Postal Police, who have in the last few hours sent reports to the relevant public prosecutor’s offices.
Passengers on the Prague–Rome flight: “Tired, but the atmosphere on board was calm”
The Wizz Air flight from Prague, which had been diverted to Venice this morning, landed at Fiumicino Airport at around 3.50pm There were few Italians on board. Some, worn out by the journey, preferred not to make any statements and simply headed home. “The atmosphere on board the plane was relaxed,” said Barbara Iacchino, a Roman returning from a trip. “They told us they were going to land us in Venice. It was only once we arrived that they explained the reason and, in an orderly manner, got us off the plane and checked our luggage. Everyone cooperated fully.”
“We were well looked after at Marco Polo Airport,” she continued, “they offered us food and drink. We’re tired now and just want to get home. We didn’t sense any concern and, apart from the wait before setting off for Rome, everything was handled perfectly”
Bomb threat email also received by Bulgarian TV broadcaster Nova
An email containing a bomb threat against media organisations was also received today at the email address of the Bulgarian television broadcaster Nova. The broadcaster itself reported this on its website, specifying that the sender of the message stated that it was one of the leaders of the group responsible for bomb threats against aircraft across Europe.
Nova Broadcasting Group immediately activated its standard procedure for handling such situations, without interrupting the broadcast of its television and radio programmes
‘Stato Maschile’ on the BBC denies involvement in bomb scares
Responding to the BBC Russian Service, a Telegram account – one of many linked to the so-called Russian extremist group ‘Male State’ or ‘Stato Maschile’ and its founder Vladislav Pozdnyakov – denied that the group was involved in sending the emails delivered yesterday to Italian airports, which reported the alleged presence of explosive devices on board certain domestic flights. “What ‘Male State’? Where have you seen it? It hasn’t existed for many years,” reads the message posted on the channel, “if tomorrow they were to sign a [threatening] letter, say, from Putin, would you then try to contact our president to ask him your stupid question?” The misogynistic, homophobic and racist movement was designated an extremist organisation in 2021 and has been banned in Russia.
Hungarian fighter jets scrambled three times at Nato’s request
The Hungarian Air Force’s fighter jets were put on alert three times within a few hours today following bomb threats against three passenger aircraft: a Brussels–Sofia flight and two flights departing from Prague, bound for Cyprus and Bucharest respectively. This was announced by the Hungarian defence minister, Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi, in a social media post, specifying that Nato had ordered the immediate deployment of military fighter jets, known as an ‘Alpha Scramble’. “The Hungarian fighter jets were on a training flight when they received several alerts in quick succession this morning,” he explained.
In Dublin following the threatening emails: “Possible coordinated action”
In Dublin, meanwhile, emails containing threats of attacks led to the evacuation of the headquarters of the public broadcaster RTE and the newspaper The Irish Independent, as well as other radio and television newsrooms. Prime Minister Micheaíl Martin reported that the police, the defence forces and the relevant cybersecurity and aviation authorities are collaborating on the investigations. He considered a coordinated action possible, but pointed out that it is too early to determine whether there is a single perpetrator. The police had put protocols in place for the commitments of the Irish EU Presidency: Dublin is set to host an EU summit on 12 and 13 November. The overall number of incidents is therefore continuing to rise. Regarding the possible coordinated nature of the threats, the Spanish Foreign Minister, José Manuel Albares, spoke of an “attempt at hybrid aggression and psychological warfare”. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said that, whilst there is as yet no evidence of who is responsible for the latest alerts, he highlighted the risks of destabilisation: “Together with our European allies, we are taking all necessary countermeasures.”
Investigations have been launched in several countries
Bomb scares on aircraft continue across Europe, with checks so far – fortunately – proving negative on the flights investigated. Flights to and from Rome and Prague have been affected, whilst in Ireland the threats have even reached the newsrooms of some television broadcasters. The European Commission has activated a mechanism for the exchange of information between Member States. “We take these threats very seriously. Any threat against civilians is absolutely unacceptable,” said Commission Spokesperson Anna-Kaisa Itkonen, adding that investigations are the responsibility of the individual states. In Venice, the alert concerning Wizz Air flight 46136 – which had departed from Prague and was bound for Rome Fiumicino, where it was due to arrive at 11.00 – has been lifted. The aircraft was diverted to Marco Polo Airport following an anonymous phone call reporting a bomb. According to investigative sources, the call is believed to have originated in Prague, not at Fiumicino as initially reported. After landing, 190 passengers and eight crew members were disembarked; checks carried out by the law-enforcement agencies proved negative. The airspace, which had been closed as a precaution, was reopened at around 12.20.
Reports to Milan prosecutors
Two reports from the Polaria units at Malpensa and Milan Linate have been submitted to the public prosecutor’s office in Milan following a series of false bomb scares affecting several international flights transiting through the Lombardy airports. The initial documents refer only to the reports indicating the flights on which the explosive devices were allegedly found, and which resulted in diversions or emergency landings for the necessary checks. Prosecutor Marcello Viola, who coordinates the district counter-terrorism unit, has, for the time being, opened a ‘Model 45’ case file without specifying any alleged offence or naming any suspects, pending further assessment. The Public Prosecutor’s Office in Busto Arsizio (Varese) has already launched its initial investigations on the grounds of causing undue alarm.
Witness on Rome–Lisbon flight: checks on the tarmac, no warning of a threat
The flight landed without incident, but security checks and disembarkation were delayed for passengers on the Ryanair Rome–Lisbon flight, which arrived in the Portuguese capital at 8am this morning following a bomb scare. One of the passengers recounted the incident, stating that the aircraft was kept in a remote area of the airport whilst the authorities carried out their checks. “The captain told us that there were security checks to be carried out and that we shouldn’t worry,” the witness reported, adding that passengers were not informed of the presence of a possible bomb. Numerous police officers engaged in the operation were observed from the aircraft. The checks took place in Lisbon and the passengers disembarked later than expected. Subsequently, the passengers waited for about half an hour on the airport shuttle before being able to leave the area.
Malpensa Airport: investigation opened by Busto Arsizio for causing a false alarm
A case file for causing a bomb scare, currently against persons unknown, has been opened by the Public Prosecutor’s Office in Busto Arsizio (Varese) following the two bomb scares yesterday involving two incoming flights at Milan Malpensa Airport. The flights in question were one from Thessaloniki, which landed at 9.33am, and another that took off from Porto and arrived at 10.25am Security procedures were immediately activated, and checks proved negative: no explosive devices were found. The investigation may subsequently become part of a wider inquiry, in light of similar reports that affected numerous Italian and European airports on the same day. The nature of the threats and the content of the messages suggest a possible link between the various incidents. Investigators from the Postal Police are also working on the communications, endeavouring to trace the senders
Prague: “Minimal impact on the airport”
At Vaclav Havel Airport in Prague, Czech Republic, spokeswoman Denisa Hejtmánková said that a total of nine flights had been the subject of threats, including flights arriving from Denmark, Spain and the United Kingdom, and flights departing for the Netherlands, Cyprus, Romania, Italy and the United Kingdom. The Czech police stated that security measures had been put in place which had “minimal impact on the airport’s normal operations”.
Investigation into the Ryanair Rome–Lisbon flight
Ryanair flight FR8197 from Lisbon to Rome took off more than two hours late following a false bomb scare. The Portuguese police are investigating the source of the threat, which was reported at 7.20 local time via international police cooperation channels. At that time, the aircraft bound for Rome was still approaching Lisbon’s Humberto Delgado Airport at the end of its previous flight.
After landing, officers from the Portuguese police’s special unit inspected the aircraft. Passengers bound for Rome and their luggage underwent further checks before boarding. According to the FlightAware platform, the aircraft took off at around 10.45 local time, 11.45 in Italy.
Prague–Bucharest flight: ‘Non-specific threat’
A flight from Prague that landed at Henri Coanda International Airport in Bucharest was the subject of a bomb threat today. This was reported by the Romanian news agency Agerpres, citing the Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI). According to the intelligence services, this is a “non-specific threat that does not require any concrete measures on the ground”. Similar threats concerning aircraft arriving in Bucharest had already been reported yesterday, but were subsequently found to be unfounded following checks carried out by the SRI
The claim of responsibility email received by The Irish Independent
“Hello. I am Mikhail Andropov, one of the leaders of the group responsible for the threats of attacks on aeroplanes in Europe over the past week. The European authorities have once again proved themselves to be incompetent fools, incapable of doing anything to stop us. We have tested a strategy based on simultaneous actions, succeeding in spreading panic on a massive scale and forcing the European authorities to spend a fortune on managing all the security procedures. But this is only the beginning. What has happened this week is merely a small part of what awaits Europe in the near future. We are preparing a new wave of attacks. We are recruiting residents of your countries who are actively collaborating with us. We have also gained access to compromised devices, servers and accounts belonging to both people living in Europe and individuals outside its borders; all of this will be used against you. Very soon we will blow up your aeroplanes, cruise ships, underground stations and trains. In the meantime, I advise you to treat yourselves to a holiday by plane, whilst you still have the chance. We want the whole world to know who we are; for this reason, one of our agents has planted an explosive device in your building. The explosion will take place in 45 minutes. The clock is ticking.”
Security: bomb scare on flights in France; planes landed safely
“Today, there were four new bomb scares against aircraft flying over French territory. The aircraft landed safely. Bomb disposal teams are carrying out security checks. An investigation is under way to determine the source of these scares, which affect the whole of Europe.” The office of the French prime minister, Sébastien Lecornu, announced this
Threats to Dublin newsrooms: “Staff safety is our top priority”
The bomb scare was sent by email to RTE, the private radio station Newstalk and other Irish media outlets. Prime Minister Micheßl Martin said the police and armed forces were investigating the threats, but that it was still too early to determine whether they were the work of a single individual or part of a coordinated operation. Presenters and staff were evacuated from the public broadcaster’s headquarters in the Donnybrook neighbourhood, in south Dublin, where officers intervened with the assistance of canine units. As a precaution, RTE switched to pre-recorded programmes, whilst Radio 1’s Today programme was broadcast from a mobile production unit. The broadcaster has assured the public that staff safety is a priority and that normal programming will resume as soon as possible, following consultation with the police. The offices of Mediahuis and Independent News Media on Talbot Street in the centre of the capital were also evacuated as a precaution, and staff who had not yet arrived were asked to work from home until the all-clear was given. Virgin Media also received the threat but continued broadcasting without evacuating its studios.
Several newsrooms in Ireland suspended their broadcasts
RTÉ Radio One’s programme ‘Today With David McCullagh’ was interrupted this morning and replaced by music, whilst staff gathered outside the buildings on the Donnybrook campus. Staff from other media outlets, including Newstalk Radio, Today FM, Virgin Media and the Irish Independent, were also evacuated. Radio One’s regular broadcasts resumed at 10.13am, according to The Guardian. The alert came in the form of an email, received before 9am, warning of an explosion within 45 minutes. The police, assisted by sniffer dogs, attended the scene.
Threats at Copenhagen Airport
New threats against air traffic at Copenhagen Airport. Danish police were called to the airport this morning to investigate the reports, whilst a flight is said to have been diverted following a bomb scare. “We are back at Copenhagen Airport today in connection with direct threats to air traffic,” the police said in a statement
Two media offices evacuated in Dublin
The offices of two Irish media organisations, the public broadcaster RTE and the daily newspaper The Irish Independent, were evacuated in Dublin following a bomb scare. This was reported by the two organisations themselves. RTE’s Dublin headquarters was evacuated after receiving an email containing the threat, which was sent to the broadcaster earlier that morning. According to a statement on the broadcaster’s website, the same message was also sent to other media organisations in Ireland and the United Kingdom. The Irish Independent newspaper also confirmed that it had received the threat and had ordered the evacuation of staff
Bomb scare on at least eight flights arriving at and departing from Prague
At least eight flights arriving at and departing from Prague Airport have been affected by bomb scares. The company that operates the airport in the Czech capital reported this.
Bomb scare on Prague-Rome flight; report received in the Czech capital
According to information gathered from investigative sources, the bomb scare concerning the Prague-Rome flight – which was subsequently diverted to Venice – is believed to have been received in Prague and not at the Fiumicino control tower, as initially reported. Bomb disposal operations are currently underway on the Wizzair aircraft that landed in Venice.
Bomb scares on four flights over France; all have landed safely
Four new bomb scares have been reported on aircraft flying over France. The French prime minister’s office announced this. All the aircraft have landed safely; bomb disposal experts are carrying out inspections and an investigation is under way to determine the source of the scares, which affect the whole of Europe, the office said.
Prague–Rome flight diverted to Venice
Another bomb scare has been triggered on a Wizzair flight from Prague to Rome. The report of a bomb on board, according to reports, came via an anonymous email to the Fiumicino control tower. The flight, which was due to arrive in the capital at 11am, was diverted to Venice, where it landed. Police are currently carrying out a security sweep.
Bomb scare on Rome-Lisbon flight
According to reports, the aircraft in question is a Ryanair Boeing 737-8AS, flight FR8196 operated by Malta Air, which departed from Fiumicino at 6.05am, the aircraft was forced this morning to carry out a security procedure upon arrival at 7.55am at Lisbon Airport following a bomb scare received by the Portuguese Public Security Police via a telephone call from a member of the law-enforcement agencies, whose identity was verified by members of the Judicial Police.