While it remains unclear who is responsible for the spate of bomb threats across Europe this week, one aviation expert said he is looking closely at Russia.
“From a geopolitical view, I’m thinking, you always have to think about the scenario of hybrid warfare, where a country in this way — today we are looking at Russia, right? — is attacking us on multiple fronts, from railways to supermarkets to blood banks, most recently,” Eric Schouten, head of the aviation security group Dyami, told Reuters.
“The energy sector, the internet sector, and the aviation sector are among those,” he added.
Russia has recently been accused by Denmark, Poland and Romania of causing disruption through hybrid attacks – hostile action that targets and destabilizes an adversary through a blend of non-military tactics and cyber assaults on essential infrastructure.
The unconventional mixture of techniques used in such an attack makes it difficult to trace back to a single actor, he said.
Denmark, Poland and Romania are also among the nations impacted by Thursday’s disruptions, and Schouten pointed out that those affected have supported Ukraine during Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Earlier Thursday, CNN affiliate SKYTG24 published an email from an anti-feminist group calling itself “The Male State” which appeared to reveal the origin of a false bomb threat claims made regarding two flights bound for an airport in Rome.
The International Centre for Counter-Terrorism, a Netherlands-based think tank, said “The Male State” was created in Russia in 2016.
“It transitioned from being one of the most notorious misogynist movements in Russia to one of the main online supporters and promoters of the war in Ukraine,” the report said.
Russia has denied engaging in hybrid warfare.
Source: www.cnn.com
