A third wave of bomb threats in one week disrupted European aviation on Friday, affecting flights to Lisbon, Rome, Prague and Sofia, while emailed threats also targeted newsrooms in Ireland and Bulgaria.

The threats against newsrooms came from someone using the name “Mikhail Andropov,” who claimed responsibility for a widening series of hoax threats against passenger flights; no independent link between the aviation and media incidents has been established.

Among the most visible aviation incidents, Aer Lingus flight EI402 from Dublin to Rome diverted to Évreux-Fauville air base in Normandy after a threat, and all 151 passengers and six crew members were evacuated safely.

France’s air force said two fighter jets escorted the Dublin–Rome flight into Normandy after an alert from Italian authorities.

Other flights were diverted or escorted for inspections, including Finnair flights to Rome and Vienna and a Wizz Air flight diverted to Vienna; Czech police also inspected four planes that landed in Prague.

Security reviews and a visible police presence followed at affected airports, but operations largely continued with limited disruption, and no explosives had been found on any planes as of Friday.

Media organizations also faced evacuations: RTÉ, the Irish Independent, NewstalkFM, TodayFM and Sky were among those targeted, while RTÉ staff and children at its on-site creche were evacuated as gardaí searched the buildings.

Irish police are investigating the threats, while Jim O’Callaghan said they were being taken very seriously and Simon Harris said gardaí, security forces and cyber experts were working with European counterparts.

Helen McEntee said it was too early to identify who was behind the hoax threats, but Russia could not be ruled out; no government or group has been confirmed as responsible.

European officials are concerned the incidents may form part of a broader hybrid-disruption campaign, often blamed on Russia and associated with countries supporting Ukraine, although Moscow has denied involvement.

The incidents have heightened concern ahead of next week’s European Political Community summit and informal EU Council meeting in Dublin, prompting Micheál Martin to announce Ireland’s largest-ever security operation.

More than 50 prime ministers are expected at Thursday’s summit, followed by the EU Council meeting on Friday during Ireland’s six-month presidency of the EU Council.