Bomb threats with messages stating “the clock is ticking” were sent to TV stations across Europe on Friday, causing evacuations and suspensions of programming. Stations affected included Ireland’s RTE, Britain’s Sky, and Bulgaria’s Nova TV, but no bombs were found. RTE’s programming was replaced by music and recorded messages for up to three hours.
These alerts followed a series of hoax bomb threats that disrupted flights in several countries, including Serbia and Spain, leading to diversions and security checks, although no explosives were discovered. The threats also come amid rising concerns about hacking scams, including cyberattacks on supermarkets.
The emails received by Nova and RTE claimed to come from a group responsible for recent airline hoaxes, with one message indicating an imminent explosion. The sender signed off as Mikhail Andropov, sharing a name with a former Soviet leader. The message hinted at further disturbances to come in Europe, raising questions about possible Russian connections.
Law enforcement responded by evacuating the Nova newsroom in Sofia but later confirmed the area was safe and operations resumed. Staff at RTE also returned following a thorough safety check. Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin noted that security agencies had not confirmed if the threats were isolated or part of a larger coordinated attack. He emphasized how simple it can be to disrupt society and encouraged everyone to remain calm.
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with information from Reuters
