Newsrooms in several European countries were evacuated after receiving false threats

European intelligence services are investigating whether Russia is behind a series of false bomb threats that disrupted flights and led to the evacuation of newsrooms in several European countries during the first week of November 2026. The incident is being analyzed as a possible hybrid warfare operation intended to cause panic and destabilize European societies.

Broadcasters and newsrooms in Ireland and Bulgaria received threatening emails on Friday, signed by a person who identified himself as “Mikhail Andropov.” Ireland’s public broadcaster RTE evacuated its headquarters and suspended broadcasting, while Bulgaria’s Nova TV received a message titled “Message to the West.” The alerts warned of attacks against means of transport.

During the same week, the threats targeted airlines and airports in several countries. Approximately six flights were affected on Tuesday, while on Thursday the number exceeded 24. Some aircraft were diverted, landed unexpectedly or were escorted by fighter jets. A Wizz Air flight on the Prague–Rome route was diverted to Venice.

Officials suspect pro-Kremlin activists or hacker groups, but the direct involvement of Russian intelligence services has not been confirmed. Another possibility is that the perpetrators are attempting to mislead investigators or are acting for personal reasons. European agencies are continuing to verify the origin of the messages and the extent of the coordination.