Europe hoax bomb threats

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1. Nov 7 · Afternoon 5/10 no change

   French prosecutors investigate whether foreign powers linked to flight bomb hoaxes

   What changed French prosecutors are investigating this week's fake bomb threats against commercial flights in Europe, including whether foreign powers may be involved, France 24 reported. Those responsible have not been identified. The New York Times reported a cyberattack on supermarket fridges, bomb threats to planes and software vulnerabilities have Europe on edge, and officials encourage resilience and stockpiling.

   Impact Flights and broadcasters across Europe have been disrupted, and aviation authorities face difficulty containing the threats, CNBC reported.

   Open The perpetrators have not been identified.

   Details and sources

   Context Earlier threats affected at least 18 flights to or from several European countries, which landed safely with no explosives found, and the Irish government said they are likely part of a coordinated campaign.

   Confirmed 5 outlets 5 news organizations reported this. Confirmed means 2 or more did. Outlets that republish wire copy (AP, Reuters) can't always be told apart, so this is the most independent confirmation there could be, not a guarantee.

   • ScaleScale 2 Scale 2/2 · Multinational or global How widely it reaches. 0 Local · 1 National · 2 Multinational or global.
   • HumanHuman 1 Human 1/2 · Disruption: displacement, outages, restrictions Human impact. 0 None · 1 Disruption: displacement, outages, restrictions · 2 Lives lost or directly at risk.
   • EconEcon 0 Econ 0/2 · Negligible Economic impact. 0 Negligible · 1 A sector or a national economy · 2 Global markets or supply chains.
   • EscalationEsc 1 Escalation 1/2 · Could spread or worsen Potential to grow. 0 Contained · 1 Could spread or worsen · 2 Actively escalating.
   • ReversibilityRev 1 Reversibility 1/2 · Lasting How lasting the effects are. 0 Easily reversed · 1 Lasting · 2 Permanent or structural.

   Sources CNBC · AP · France 24 · Al Jazeera · New York Times

   ▶ Listen #4 in that edition
2. Nov 6 · Morning 5/10 FIRST REPORT

   New hoax bomb threats disrupt at least 18 European flights and target broadcasters

   What changed A fresh wave of bomb threats on Friday affected at least 18 flights to or from Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czechia, France, Hungary, Italy, Portugal, Romania and the UK, and the aircraft landed safely with no explosives found. Broadcasters including Ireland's RTE, Britain's Sky and Bulgaria's Nova TV also received threats, and RTE staff were evacuated. The Irish government said the threats are likely part of a coordinated campaign of disruption; a Russian extremist group named in some messages denied involvement.

   Impact Air travel across multiple European countries was disrupted, and RTE programming was replaced for up to three hours. No link between the airline and media threats has been established, according to the BBC.

   Details and sources

   Context Dozens of European flights were disrupted by hoax bomb threats earlier this week, with some aircraft escorted by fighter jets or diverted.

   Confirmed 10 outlets 10 news organizations reported this. Confirmed means 2 or more did. Outlets that republish wire copy (AP, Reuters) can't always be told apart, so this is the most independent confirmation there could be, not a guarantee.

   • ScaleScale 2 Scale 2/2 · Multinational or global How widely it reaches. 0 Local · 1 National · 2 Multinational or global.
   • HumanHuman 1 Human 1/2 · Disruption: displacement, outages, restrictions Human impact. 0 None · 1 Disruption: displacement, outages, restrictions · 2 Lives lost or directly at risk.
   • EconEcon 1 Econ 1/2 · A sector or a national economy Economic impact. 0 Negligible · 1 A sector or a national economy · 2 Global markets or supply chains.
   • EscalationEsc 1 Escalation 1/2 · Could spread or worsen Potential to grow. 0 Contained · 1 Could spread or worsen · 2 Actively escalating.
   • ReversibilityRev 0 Reversibility 0/2 · Easily reversed How lasting the effects are. 0 Easily reversed · 1 Lasting · 2 Permanent or structural.

   Sources BBC +1 · South China Morning Post · The Hindu · The Guardian +1 · New York Times · AP · France 24

   ▶ Listen #7 in that edition