Bomb Threats Disrupt European Flights and Media Outlets

European airlines have been hit by a fresh wave of bomb threats, marking the third such incident this week. On Friday, multiple flights to and from Lisbon, Rome, Prague, and Sofia were targeted, with authorities confirming that three planes were escorted by Hungarian fighter jets as a precaution.

Media Organizations Evacuated

The disruption extended beyond aviation, as several high-profile media organizations, including Ireland's public broadcaster RTÉ, were evacuated following threats against their premises. Staff at the Irish Independent newspaper and the Dublin offices of radio stations NewstalkFM and TodayFM were also advised to leave their buildings. UK broadcaster Sky confirmed it had received a security threat and reported the matter to authorities.

Coordinated Campaign Suspected

While no concrete link has been established between the threats against airlines and media outlets, the Irish government has warned that it appears to be a "likely coordinated campaign of disruption." In a statement, the government emphasized that such hoax threats cause fear, distress, and disruption to people going about their daily lives and achieve no positive purpose. Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin described the situation as "worrying" and stated that his government's first priority is the safety of the Irish public. He told RTÉ that it is not yet known whether the threats came from individuals or a coordinated attack, but they are being taken seriously.

Ongoing Investigation

Friday's disruption follows earlier this week when nearly 30 aircraft and several airports across Europe were impacted by bomb threats, which the UK described as a "malicious hoax." A Ryanair flight scheduled to leave Lisbon for Rome was targeted on Friday, while at least 11 flights were targeted in the Czech Republic and Bulgaria, according to AFP. France also reported at least four of its flights were targeted, though all landed safely. No explosives have been found on any planes as of Friday.

The Russian extremist group "Male State," which was named in this week's hoax bomb threats to Italian airports, has denied any link to the false warnings. In a message on Telegram, an account linked to the group mocked suggestions of involvement, saying, "What Male State? Where have you seen it? It hasn't existed for many years."

Ireland is scheduled to host two high-profile European Union meetings in Dublin next week, adding to security concerns. Authorities continue to investigate the source of the threats and are working to ensure the safety of the public and operations.