Fake bomb threats investigation France foreign powers, Digi Mart USA News (Paris, France): The Paris prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation into false bomb alerts that targeted aircraft flying over French territory, the office said Saturday, November 7. Investigators are seeking to determine whether the authors of the emails had possible links to “foreign powers.”
The investigation aims to identify those who sent the emails spreading the false information, which was intended to create the impression of a dangerous destruction plan, according to the prosecutor’s office, which was contacted by AFP. Investigators are also examining whether the senders had any connection to foreign governments.
On Thursday, an Aer Lingus aircraft was diverted to Évreux after a bomb alert. On Friday, the Prime Minister’s office reported four new alerts on aircraft flying over French territory, where bomb disposal teams carried out security inspections.
Three of those planes landed at Orly and the fourth at Bordeaux, all without incident, according to a source familiar with the case.
The prime minister’s office, headed by Sébastien Lecornu, which is responsible for air security and defense in the country, said an investigation was underway to determine the origin of the alerts, which are affecting all of Europe. No further details were provided.
Dozens of commercial flights have been subject to bomb alerts across Europe since the beginning of the week. Some aircraft were diverted, escorted by fighter jets, evacuated or searched, and in each case no bombs were found.
Irish and British media outlets, including Sky News, as well as the French broadcaster TF1, have also received bomb threats. On Friday, the Irish government condemned what it called a “probable coordinated campaign aimed at causing disruption.”
Experts note that this series of false alerts, which is difficult to attribute, mobilizes security services and spreads fear at low cost. Claims sent Thursday to the airports of Rome and Sofia came from the “combattants de l’État masculin,” a name that appeared to refer to a Russian ultranationalist movement, though its leader denied any involvement.
European officials have for months denounced an increase in destabilization operations carried out on behalf of Russia or Iran, including disinformation campaigns, sabotage, cyberattacks and attacks. Intelligence services have warned for several weeks that these campaigns, particularly those attributed to Russia, could intensify in an effort to weaken European support for Ukraine.
