IRELAND / EUROPE. – Bomb threats that have targeted several airlines and passenger flights across Europe in recent days have now spread to news organisations. Newsrooms in Ireland and Bulgaria were evacuated on Friday after receiving threats, while a British broadcaster confirmed it was also targeted.
The Irish public broadcaster RTÉ 's headquarters in Dublin was evacuated after an email was received claiming that a bomb had been placed in the building and would explode within 45 minutes. Police, the Gardaí, searched the premises and later declared it safe. Staff were then able to return. RTÉ subsequently replaced certain programmes temporarily with pre-recorded broadcasts.
The threats also affected other Irish media organisations, including the Irish Independent, Virgin Media and Newstalk. The offices of the Irish Independent were evacuated as a precaution, while Virgin Media confirmed it had received a threat but continued its broadcasts. In Bulgaria, the newsroom of Nova TV in Sofia was also evacuated and searched by police. No explosive device was found and staff were able to return. The British broadcaster Sky also received a security threat.
According to reports, the emails to RTÉ and Nova TV were signed with the name "Mikhail Andropov" and carried the heading Message to the West . The person believed to have sent it claimed to be part of a group responsible for the recent bomb threats against aircraft in Europe. However, this claim could not be independently verified.
The Irish government said it is not yet known who is behind the threats or whether it is the work of individuals or a coordinated effort. The government suggests there may be a link to the disruption of air traffic in Europe, but investigations must still confirm this.
As Nuusflits reported earlier, several passenger flights have been affected by bomb threats over the past week. This has led to security checks, flight delays, diversions and in some cases fighter jet escorts. No explosive devices were found on the affected aircraft.
The identity of the person or persons behind the threats, as well as any possible connection between the attacks on air traffic and news organisations, remains unknown. Investigations are ongoing.
Sources: RTÉ, Al Jazeera, ABC News Australia
This article is an automatic English translation of a Nuusflits article originally published in Afrikaans. Read the Afrikaans original.
