France probes if airline bomb hoaxes tied to foreign powers

· Security · France · European Union

French prosecutors are investigating a series of fake bomb threats that targeted commercial flights in Europe this week, including trying to establish whether foreign powers may be involved. Those responsible for the bogus threats have not been identified. The hoaxes caused flight chaos across Europe, and analysts say aviation authorities find them hard to contain because in-flight targeting is a weak point. Separately, Italy's foreign minister said pro-Russian hackers leaked his personal data, and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni blamed pro-Russian hackers. Europe has seen bomb hoaxes and supermarket cyberattacks heighten security fears.

Why it matters:A wave of hoaxes and cyberattacks across Europe points to hybrid tactics that are hard to attribute and costly to defend against.

Key points

  • French prosecutors are examining whether foreign powers are involved.
  • The hoaxes targeted commercial flights across Europe this week.
  • Italy's foreign minister said pro-Russian hackers leaked his data.

Sources (original reporting)

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