European air traffic targeted by several new threats after a week of hoaxes

BERLIN (AP) — Officials across Europe reported more bomb threats against multiple flights on Friday, following a string of hoaxes that have caused flight diversions this week.

No suspicious items were found and no one was injured, but the threats have raised concern because they came as Europe digests a slew of other recent disruptions — including attacks on supermarket refrigeration systems and drone incursions.

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu’s office said Friday that “four new bomb threats were made today against aircraft flying over French territory.” The planes landed safely and bomb disposal experts were conducting inspections. The statement didn’t give further details on the flights affected.

A flight from Prague to Bucharest operated by Romanian carrier Tarom received a bomb threat, but it landed at its intended destination. Airport administration officials said the threat proved to be false.

Portuguese police said they were informed of a bomb threat targeting a Ryanair flight traveling from Lisbon to Rome, and carried out a security inspection once the aircraft landed in Lisbon. Passengers and luggage scheduled to travel to Rome underwent additional security screening before boarding.

Police in Venice said a WizzAir flight from Prague to Rome was diverted to the Italian city after a bomb alert. Passengers were evacuated after the aircraft landed, and authorities were carrying out security checks. The inspections had so far produced negative results, according to police. Air traffic at the airport was temporarily suspended but resumed.

Meanwhile, police in Denmark and the Czech Republic both said they investigated threats to air traffic.

In the Danish capital, Copenhagen, police said Friday they went to the airport for a second consecutive day “in connection with threats directed at air traffic" as a precautionary measure. They said they assessed that there had been no danger to passengers or to others at the airport, and that air traffic was proceeding safely and without disruption.

Czech police also said they were again dealing with threats against planes on Friday. They said necessary security measures were taken in cooperation with Prague’s Vaclav Havel Airport that had “a minimal impact on the normal operations at the airport.”

Airport spokesperson Denisa Hejtmánková said a total of nine flights were threatened — arriving flights from Denmark, Spain and Britain, and departing flights to the Netherlands, Cyprus, Romania, Italy and Britain.

More than two dozen flights were affected by threats earlier in the week, with some diverted as authorities scrambled to rule out any danger.

Fake bomb threats are relatively common but it is unusual to see so many in such a short period.

It remains unclear who is behind the wave of airline hoaxes, which come at a time of increased geopolitical tensions and warnings from authorities that Russia may be ramping up so-called hybrid threats in Europe.

Authorities have not attributed the threats to any group or state actor, and no evidence has emerged linking the hoaxes to a government. An email containing the threat sent Thursday to airport authorities in Rome and reviewed by The Associated Press purported to come from a group describing itself as anti-feminist and claiming it was targeting a “feminist regime.” Another European airport received a threat with similar wording, but it was unclear if it came from the same sender.

Bomb threats are on pilots’ minds and create unnecessary tension, but crews are prepared to respond professionally, said Paul Reuter, vice president of the European Cockpit Association. Pilots review procedures with cabin crews, identify airports where they could divert and may carry extra fuel, he said.

Reuter called the use of civil aviation for geopolitical disruption or hoaxes “totally unacceptable.”

In Ireland, the Dublin headquarters of national broadcaster RTE was evacuated Friday after a bomb threat, and live broadcasts were replaced with pre-recorded programs.

Ireland’s police force, An Garda Síochána, said it was ”aware of a threat made against media organisations here and in Europe.” It said that it has been liaising with Irish media organizations and the threat will be investigated.

Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin said the threats to RTE and others “just illustrates how relatively simple it can be to cause disruption and to undermine the normal operation of society through unconventional activities of this kind, which are designed to cause fear and anxiety.”

He said there would be a “very significant security operation” in place next week when Dublin hosts meetings of the European Political Community and European Union leaders.

Jill Lawless in London, Suman Naishadham in Madrid, Stephen McGrath in Leamington Spa, England, Giada Zampano in Rome, Karel Janicek in Prague, Sylvie Corbet in Paris and Mark Carlson in Brussels contributed to this report.

A police car is seen in front of Vasil Levski Sofia Airport after three Ryanair flights bound for Sofia, Bulgaria, made emergency landings following bomb threats on board, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Valentina Petrova)

Police patrol the Copenhagen Airport, Denmark, Friday, Nov. 6, 2026. (Liselotte Sabroe/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)

FILE - Passengers arriving at the Henri Coanda International Airport pass under a Schengen Information sign, in Otopeni, near Bucharest, Romania, on March 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru, File)

Police patrol the Copenhagen Airport, Denmark, Friday, Nov. 6, 2026. (Liselotte Sabroe/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)

MOMBASA, Kenya (AP) — The leader of a Kenyan doomsday cult linked to the deaths of more than 400 people was sentenced on Friday to 200 years in prison for the murders of 191 people.

The High Court in Kenya’s coastal city of Mombasa issued the sentence for Pastor Paul Mackenzie. He was convicted of murdering 190 children and one adult after he ordered his followers to starve themselves to death in order to meet Jesus.

Justice Diana Kavedza said that Mackenzie, leader of the Good News International Church, bore the “primary criminal culpability” for relocating his followers to a remote location and ordering them to fast to death.

Mackenzie was charged with the murders alongside 28 of his followers, including guards who enforced his fasting directives and gravediggers who helped conceal the mass graves. All denied the charges, except for one person who confessed and pleaded for leniency.

On Oct. 19, the court found all 29 of the accused guilty of the murder of 191 people.

In 2023, more than 400 bodies were exhumed from shallow graves on the 800-acre (320-hectare) Chakama Ranch in coastal Kilifi County, where Mackenzie’s followers lived in mud huts, away from the scrutiny of local communities and authorities.

More than 60 bodies were positively identified and reburied by their relatives, while many others remain unidentified and unclaimed.

During the sentencing, Kavedza said that 183 victims died of starvation, defined as a complete lack of food, and the other eight were classified as murder by direct homicide.

Kavedza said the killings were “cold and calculated” and dismissed claims by some of the accused that the loss of their own children altered the fact that they had participated in the killings of many other children.

The justice said that the perpetrators didn't show remorse and declared they were ready to fast to death as well. During the sentencing, Mackenzie often smiled and chatted with his assistant pastor, Smart Mwakalama, who was sentenced to 160 years in prison.

The prosecution had argued for the death penalty for Mackenzie and life imprisonment for his accomplices.

Mackenzie is also facing terrorism, child abuse and torture charges in two other courts.

Good News International Church pastor Paul Mackenzie, center, who has been convicted of murdering 190 children and one adult, reacts as he awaits sentencing at the Mombasa High Court in Mombasa, Kenya, Friday, Nov. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)

Good News International Church pastor Paul Mackenzie, right, who has been convicted on 191 murder charges, sits alongside fellow church members as he awaits sentencing at the Mombasa High Court in Mombasa, Kenya, Friday, Nov. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)

Good News International Church pastor Paul Mackenzie, center, who has been convicted of murdering 190 children and one adult, sits alongside fellow church members as he awaits sentencing at the Mombasa High Court in Mombasa, Kenya, Friday, Nov. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)

Good News International Church pastor Paul Mackenzie, center, who has been convicted on 191 murder charges, arrives alongside fellow church members as he awaits sentencing at the Mombasa High Court in Mombasa, Kenya, Friday, Nov. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)

Good News International Church pastor Paul Mackenzie, who has been convicted of murdering 190 children and one adult, awaits for sentencing at the Mombasa High Court in Mombasa, Kenya, Friday, Nov. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)