European Air Traffic Targeted By New Threats
The alerts followed threats affecting more than two dozen flights earlier in the week, some of which were diverted.
Berlin:Fresh bomb threats disrupted flights across Europe on Friday, prompting fighter-jet escorts, diversions and evacuations, while two broadcasters also received threats. No explosives were found and no injuries were reported.
Hungarian fighter jets escorted three passenger aircraft through the country’s airspace within an hour after bomb alerts. France reported four threats against aircraft, which landed safely at Paris’s Orly airport for inspections.
Prague airport reported threats involving nine arriving and departing flights. A Wizz Air service from Prague to Rome was diverted to Venice, where passengers were evacuated and air traffic briefly suspended. Police searches found nothing suspicious.
The alerts followed threats affecting more than two dozen flights earlier in the week, some of which were diverted.
In Ireland, national broadcaster RTE evacuated its Dublin headquarters after a bomb threat and replaced live broadcasts with recorded programmes. Britain-based Sky also reported a security threat, but Sky News remained on air.
Authorities have not attributed the threats to any group or government or established whether the aviation and broadcasting incidents were linked.
An email threat sent to Rome airport authorities and reviewed by The Associated Press purported to come from an anti-feminist group. Another airport received a similarly worded message, though a common sender has not been established.
Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin said a major security operation would be in place when Dublin hosts European Political Community and European Union leaders’ meetings next week.