What happened
Television stations across Europe were evacuated on Friday after receiving bomb threats by email. The messages warned that explosive devices had been planted inside the buildings and would detonate within 45 minutes, adding that “the clock is ticking.”
Among the targeted outlets were Ireland’s national broadcaster RTE, Britain’s Sky News, and Bulgaria’s Nova TV. RTE suspended normal programming for several hours while police searched its Dublin headquarters. Employees were allowed to return after the building was declared safe. Nova’s newsroom in Sofia was evacuated and searched, though its broadcasts remained on air.
The emails were reportedly signed by someone calling himself “Mikhail Andropov,” who claimed to lead the group responsible for earlier hoax bomb warnings against passenger flights across Europe. The messages were titled “MESSAGE TO THE WEST” and warned that “this is only the beginning.”
No explosives were ultimately discovered at any of the television stations. Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin said authorities were still determining whether the incidents were carried out by individuals or as part of a coordinated campaign. Investigations into the source of the threats remain ongoing, and no evidence has established responsibility for the messages.
