A series of bomb threats targeting planes and airports across Europe has caused flight diversions, delays and additional security checks, raising concerns about safety as authorities look into who is responsible.
The threats have affected many European countries, including the Czech Republic, France, Italy, Spain, Poland, and Bulgaria. Many flight-related incidents were reported on Nov. 5, followed by more the next day, although police have not found any explosives.
Prague has also been affected by the threats. Also on Nov. 5, four planes arriving at Václav Havel Airport received bomb threats. However, Czech police searched all four and found nothing threatening
“It has made traveling a lot more stressful, not only because I am worried about the threats but also because it is becoming harder to get through security,” said Wyatt Pastore, an American student studying in Prague.
The threats continued the next day, when nine more planes arriving or departing from Prague were threatened. A Wizz Air flight travelling from Prague to Rome was diverted to Venice, where passengers were evacuated, and police searched the planes
“I have definitely been thinking about it a lot more since I have been traveling almost every weekend, and it is scary since no one knows if these threats are real or not,” said Derek Daley, another American student studying in Prague.
The situation has also extended to media organizations in Ireland, Britain and Bulgaria. Ireland’s public broadcaster RTE evacuated its headquarters in Dublin on Nov. 6, while Sky News and Bulgarian broadcaster Nova TV also reported receiving threats.
Authorities have not confirmed who is behind the threats or whether all the incidents are connected. Some have claimed responsibility for the threats and warned of further disruptions, but police have not verified who sent them.
