Many airports and airline companies across Europe were alerted due to bomb threats. Security measures have been increased at almost all points where notices reached, except for Heathrow Airport in London, the capital of England.
In the incidents where at least 21 flights were affected, some passenger planes were diverted to other airports. In Italy, warplanes took off and accompanied passenger planes for security reasons.
Upon investigation, it was determined that all bomb threats were unfounded. However, one of the most important questions for the authorities was whether the reports made at almost the same time in different countries were part of a coordinated operation.
The fact that bomb threats were made in different European countries at short intervals, when evaluated together with the suspicious events recorded on the continent in recent months, brought the discussions about Russia's possible role to the agenda again.
Recently, various cyber attacks, the sighting of unidentified unmanned aerial vehicles near critical infrastructure facilities, and remote intervention in some systems have been recorded in Europe.
Recently, it has been reported that refrigerator systems in supermarkets and the activities of a blood bank have been remotely intervened.
While a suspicious incident occurred on the border between Poland and Russia, a drone attack was carried out at Leipzig/Halle Airport in Germany in August. The German Interior Minister held Moscow responsible for the attack.
However, no direct evidence has yet been revealed to show that bomb threats across Europe were organized by Russia.
THE POSSIBILITY OF 'HYBRID WAR' IS ON THE AGENDA
One possibility being discussed in security circles is that bomb threats could be part of a broader "hybrid warfare" strategy.
This method, also described as "gray zone war" or "sub-threshold war", covers activities aimed at damaging a country's infrastructure, creating social instability and creating distrust among the population without resorting to direct military conflict.
An important feature of such operations is that the identities of the people who organize the actions are hidden and it becomes difficult to determine responsibility.
In addition, it can be aimed to keep these activities below the threshold that would require the implementation of NATO's Article 5, which regulates collective defense. Thus, it is aimed to prevent the alliance from responding directly militarily.
COULD IT BE CONNECTED WITH THE UKRAINIAN WAR?
NATO countries' continued military support to Ukraine remains one of the main reasons for the tension between Moscow and Western countries.
Some Russian bloggers, on the other hand, reminded that the activities of airports in Russia were disrupted due to Ukraine's unmanned aerial vehicles and that Western sanctions excluded Russian airlines from European airspace, and argued that similar disruptions could also occur in Western countries.
However, as of Thursday evening, November 5, no definitive evidence linking the bomb threats to Russia, Iran or groups affiliated with these countries could be found.
THREATENING MESSAGE TO THE AIRPORT IN ROME
One of the important details examined within the scope of the investigation was the threatening e-mail sent to the airport authorities in Rome on Thursday morning.
According to reports in the Italian press, the message written in Italian was sent on behalf of a group calling itself "Warriors of the Men's State".
The message said, "You are all accomplices in a criminal plan. That's why we want to eliminate you."
The threatening message continued: "Your feminist regime will remember this forever. The explosion will happen in 60 minutes. Your sky will turn red today."
SIMILAR THREAT TO THE PLANE GOING TO SOFIA
It was revealed that a flight to Bulgaria's capital, Sofia, also received a similar bomb threat.
The e-mail received by the French News Agency (AFP) also contained the signature "Warriors of the Men's State".
In the message, it was claimed that there would be an explosion in 60 minutes, using the expressions "We, the Warriors of the State of Men, will make history with our actions today."
The sending of messages containing similar expressions in two different countries raised the possibility that the threats may have been prepared by the same person or group.
IS THERE A RUSSIAN FRIGHT-RIGHT GROUP BEHIND THE MESSAGES?
It is considered that the name used in the threatening messages may be linked to the Russia-based far-right organization called "Muzhskoi Legion" (Men's Legion).
The organization, known for its far-right views, was banned by a court in Moscow in 2021.
The organization, which continued to reach tens of thousands of followers on Telegram despite the ban, openly supported Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
However, using the name of the organization in threatening messages does not mean that the actions are directly organized by this group.
It is also considered that the people who sent the messages may have used the name of the organization in order to mislead the security forces or divert suspicions.
WHO IS BEHIND THE ATTACK THREATS?
Although all bomb threats across Europe turned out to be unfounded, the identity of the people or groups behind the incidents remains unknown.
Threatening messages sent especially to Rome and Sofia are among the elements examined in the investigations.
However, it is stated that these e-mails alone are not sufficient to reveal the identity of those responsible or the true purpose of the actions.
The main issue for aviation authorities and security units in Europe is to identify the persons or groups behind such actions that disrupt air transportation through false reports and to detect possible real threats in the future in advance.
