Paris prosecutor's office examines possible link between false aircraft bomb threats and foreign states

The investigation has followed an international trail

The Paris prosecutor's office is examining the theory that a series of false bomb threats against aircraft is linked to foreign states. This is reported by Le Soir citing a statement from the authority (the material is summarized by Gazeta.Ru). The investigation was opened after a wave of false bomb threats aboard airliners flying over French territory: investigators are trying to identify the authors of the emails and their possible ties to 'foreign powers.' The Prime Minister's office, as quoted by La Croix, stated: 'The investigation is ongoing to determine the source of these alerts, which affected all of Europe.'

What happened in the skies over France

On Thursday, an Aer Lingus aircraft made an unscheduled landing in Évreux after a bomb threat. On Friday, according to the office of Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, four more alerts concerning aircraft over French territory were received: sappers carried out inspections, three airliners landed in Orly, the fourth in Bordeaux — all without incident.

The scale of the problem and what is known about the perpetrators

Since the beginning of the week, dozens of commercial flights in Europe have received bomb threats. Aircraft changed course, were escorted by fighter jets, passengers were evacuated, and the planes were searched, but no bombs were ever found. Earlier, according to reports, the perpetrators of the false threats against aircraft in Europe promised to continue the terror. Who is behind the emails, and whether the theory of a link to foreign states will be confirmed, has not yet been reported — the investigation continues.