The bomb hoaxes that affected at least 25 European flights Thursday included bizarre emails claiming to be from an anti-feminist group threatening to “turn the skies red,” according to reports.
The “threat notification” emails claiming to be from the so-called “Fighters of the Male State” were made over at least two of the numerous flights grounded Thursday, part of ongoing attacks many leaders have blamed on Russia, according to the BBC.
The threats, vowing to target a “feminist regime,” were made over flights to Italy, where Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is one of the world’s most powerful female leaders.
“You are all complicit in a criminal conspiracy, we want to destroy you for this,” the note said in Italian, according to Italian outlet SkyTG24.
“We, the fighters of the male state, will leave a mark on history with our actions today. Your feminist regime will remember this forever.”
The emails warned that explosives had been placed on two flights bound for the Italian capital: an Aer Lingus plane carrying 151 passengers that left Dublin, Ireland, on Thursday, and a FinnAir plane traveling from Helsinki to Rome.
“The explosion will happen in 60 minutes. Today your sky will be red.”
The senders proclaimed they wanted to “make [its] mark on history.”
The signature is identical to that of the far-right, misogynistic Russian movement the “Male State” — which Moscow authorities formally labeled an extremist organization in October 2021.
The Aer Lingus plane was diverted to Evreux, a French military base, after being intercepted following a “suspected bomb threat,” a French Air and Space Force spokesperson told Agence France Presse (AFP).
The flight “landed safely,” a rep told the BBC, saying the airline is trying to “reaccommodate customers to their final destination as soon as possible.”
Meanwhile, the Finn Air plane landed safely in Rome.
At least 25 flights from Ireland to Bulgaria were affected by the bomb threats Thursday morning, many getting escorted by military fighter jets as a precaution.
Although no country has taken responsibility for the threats, many European officials have accused Russia of masterminding sabotage and “hybrid attacks” against nations supporting Ukraine in the war.
Denmark, Poland and Romania — all affected Thursday — have previously accused Moscow directly, while Germany blamed Russia for an attack in August. Moscow has denied responsibility.
With Post wires
