The key facts

  • Threats reading 'Explosion in 45 minutes' were received by RTE, Sky, Nova and other TV channels; no explosive devices were found
  • The letters are signed with the name 'Mikhail Andropov' — matching the surname of the former General Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee
  • The incident occurred a day after false bomb threats targeted at least 19 flights between European countries

Threats to TV channels and interrupted broadcasts

On Friday, 6 November, the newsrooms of several European TV channels received emails threatening that explosive devices had been planted in their buildings. As reported by Kun.uz citing the Reuters agency, the letters contained the warning 'Time is up.' The threats led to the evacuation of staff and a temporary halt to the channels' broadcasts. Among the recipients were the Irish broadcaster RTE, Britain's Sky, the Bulgarian private channel Nova and other media outlets. Upon inspection, no explosive device was found in any of the buildings. On RTE's air, music and pre-recorded news were shown instead of regular programmes; according to Reuters, the broadcast interruptions in some cases lasted up to three hours.

The signature 'Mikhail Andropov'

Reuters quotes a fragment of the letter sent to the Nova and RTE newsrooms: 'We want the whole world to know about us. That is why one of our employees has planted an explosive device in your building. It will explode in 45 minutes. Time is up.' Who is behind the false threats remains unknown. The agency notes that the letters are signed with the name 'Mikhail Andropov' — a surname matching that of the former General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, Yuri Andropov.

A second wave within a day: after threats to flights

The incident involving the TV channels occurred a day after false messages about explosive devices were sent regarding at least 19 flights operating between European countries. Air links with, in particular, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Spain, Italy and other states were affected by the threats. During the inspection of the aircraft, no traces of explosive substances were found on any of them. Thus, over two days two waves of false threats were recorded — first against flights, then against TV companies — and neither was confirmed upon verification; the sender behind the messages has not yet been identified.