Bomb threats disrupt European airports, 25 flights diverted in a single day

European airports experienced widespread disruption on Thursday, after a new wave of bomb threats directed at various airport operators. At least 25 flights were affected, with eight cases linked to Italy. The threats prompted airports across Europe to be placed on high alert. This latest series of threats comes just two days after a similar wave involving at least seven false alarms on November 3, all of which later proved to be unfounded.

The threat emails, written in Italian and titled “Threat Notification,” were signed by a group calling itself “Male State Fighters.” An email sent to Terminal 3 at Fiumicino Airport in Rome and another to Sofia Airport administration in Bulgaria bore the exact same signature. The threat email read: “We, the fighters of the ‘Male State’, will enter history with our actions today. Your feminist system will remember this forever. The explosion will occur in 60 minutes. Today, your skies will turn red.”

According to Euronews, the signatures point to the Russian movement “Male State” (Muzhskoye Gosudarstvo), an ultranationalist and misogynistic movement founded by Vladislav Pozdnyakov. The movement has been banned in Russia. Investigators suspect that this wave of hoax bomb threats may have been coordinated on a European level, with international cooperation channels activated to trace the servers and IP addresses used to send the bomb threat emails.

The disruptions caused by the bomb threats resulted in at least 25 flights being diverted or making emergency landings. Seven of the affected flights were either arriving in or departing from Italy. The threats prompted a swift response from airport authorities, with airports across Europe being placed on high alert. The incident highlights the ongoing concerns about aviation security and the need for vigilance in the face of potential threats.

The Public Prosecutor’s Office in Busto Arsizio has opened a case against unknown perpetrators on charges of “raising a false alarm.” The investigation is ongoing, with authorities working to identify the individuals responsible for the threats. The incident has raised concerns about the potential for coordinated attacks and the need for increased cooperation between European authorities to prevent such incidents.

The “Male State” movement has been linked to several high-profile incidents in the past, with its ultranationalist and misogynistic ideology sparking widespread condemnation. The movement's founder, Vladislav Pozdnyakov, is a Russian blogger and radical nationalist activist who has been banned in Russia. The incident highlights the ongoing concerns about the potential for extremist groups to disrupt public life and the need for authorities to remain vigilant.

The disruptions caused by the bomb threats are a reminder of the ongoing challenges facing European airports and the need for robust security measures to prevent such incidents. The incident highlights the importance of international cooperation and the need for authorities to work together to prevent and respond to potential threats. The investigation into the incident is ongoing, with authorities working to identify the individuals responsible and bring them to justice.

Key points

• Investigators suspect that the wave of hoax bomb threats may have been coordinated on a European level.
• The threats were signed by a group calling itself “Male State Fighters,” linked to the Russian movement “Male State.”
• The incident highlights the ongoing concerns about aviation security and the need for vigilance in the face of potential threats.