While dozens of commercial flights have been targeted by bomb threats in Europe since the start of the week, the Paris prosecutor's office has opened an investigation, he said on Saturday. The investigations aim in particular to identify the authors of the emails at the origin of these false alerts and to determine whether they have a possible link with “foreign powers”.

Published on: 07/11/2026 - 18:48

Incidents orchestrated from abroad? The Paris prosecutor's office has opened an investigation into false bomb alerts targeting planes flying over French territory, in particular to look for a possible link of the perpetrators with "foreign powers", he indicated on Saturday November 7.

The investigations are "carried out to find the authors of the emails disclosing this false information in order to make people believe in dangerous destruction and their possible link with foreign powers", explained the prosecution, requested by AFP.

On Thursday, an Aer Lingus plane was diverted to Évreux after a bomb threat. Matignon reported on Friday four new alerts issued on planes flying over French territory and on which the mine clearance services carried out "safety inspections". Three of these aircraft landed at Orly, the fourth in Bordeaux, all without incident, according to a source informed of the matter.

Also read Threatened flights: false bomb threats, a formidable weapon for hybrid warfare?

“An investigation is underway to determine the origin of these alerts which affect all of Europe,” added, without further details, the services of Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, responsible for security and air defense of the country.

A “probable coordinated campaign”

Dozens of commercial flights have been the subject of bomb threats since the start of the week in Europe. Planes had to be diverted, escorted by fighters, evacuated or searched. Each time without discovering any bombs.

Irish, British media such as Sky News, and French media such as TF1, also received bomb threats.

The Irish government denounced on Friday a "likely coordinated campaign aimed at causing disruption".

This series of false alarms, difficult to attribute, has the effect of mobilizing the security services and sowing fear at little cost, experts point out.

Read also Hybrid war: the specter of the Russian threat hovers over the Mediterranean

Demands sent to airports in Rome and Sofia on Thursday came from "fighters for the male state", appearing to refer to the name of a Russian ultranationalist movement, but its leader denied any involvement.

European officials have been denouncing for months the increase in destabilization operations, carried out for the benefit of Russia or Iran, whether they are disinformation campaigns, sabotage, cyberattacks, attacks, etc.

For several weeks, intelligence services have been anticipating a toughening of these campaigns, particularly from Russia, to weigh on European support for Ukraine.

With AFP

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