Bomb threats sweep across European airports for third time this week, raising sabotage fears

A wave of bomb threats hit European passenger flights for the third time this week, forcing unplanned landings and fighter jet escorts. No explosives were found. Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares called it 'hybrid aggression and psychological warfare.' Threats targeted Copenhagen, Prague, Rome, and flights over France.

A wave of bomb threats was issued to passenger flights across Europe on Friday for the third time this week, as Spain's foreign minister said the continent appeared to be facing 'hybrid aggression and a form of psychological warfare.' Hoax threats disrupted dozens of flights on Thursday, forcing unplanned landings and prompting fighter jet escorts, a dramatic escalation after an initial wave on Tuesday. No explosive devices have been found, and all planes have landed safely. Danish police investigated threats at Copenhagen airport but assessed no danger to passengers. Czech police registered threats to flights in Prague, affecting four inbound and five outbound flights, with no cancellations or diversions. A Wizz Air flight from Prague to Rome was diverted to Venice and landed safely. The French prime minister's office reported four new bomb threats to aircraft over French territory, all landing safely. A Ryanair flight from Rome to Lisbon prompted a security operation on landing. Security experts said the threats had the hallmarks of a coordinated 'hybrid attack,' though copycat threats were possible. No country has attributed blame, but the threats follow a wave of sabotage attacks across Europe linked to support for Ukraine against Russia. Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said it cannot be coincidence that so many incidents with the same modus operandi are happening, calling it 'hybrid aggression and psychological warfare.' An airport source in Italy said threats claimed to be from 'fighters of the Male State,' but a Russian blogger who founded the group denied involvement.