Bomb threats in Europe target flights, broadcasters - NHKニュース

Airlines across Europe have been hit by another wave of bomb threats. Targets this time included multiple television broadcasters. Spain's foreign minister has said the threats are an attempt to weaken Europe.

Reuters news agency says Czech police responded to bomb threats related to nine flights to or from Prague on Friday.

The news agency also said a flight from Prague to Rome was forced to land in Venice due to a bomb scare.

Hungary's defense minister said the country's air force scrambled fighter jets to escort three passenger planes flying in its airspace after bomb threats.

It remains unclear who made the threats.

Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said in a TV program on Friday that Europe appears to be facing an attempt at hybrid aggression and psychological warfare. He suggested the perpetrators are likely forces who want to weaken Europe.

The latest incidents follow multiple bomb threats across Europe since the start of November. Earlier this month, callers and emails claimed that explosive devices had been planted on passenger planes flying into or out of Spain, Finland and other countries.

Also on Friday, several media outlets received bomb threats, including TV stations in Ireland, Britain and Bulgaria. The senders reportedly claimed they were also behind the threats against the planes.

The Irish government is looking into whether there is a link.