The French airports have been the target of 100 bomb threats since 18 October, as disclosed by Clément Beaune, the Deputy Minister for Transport.
He emphasized that these threats were not all traced back to a single individual. Beaune made it clear on the LCI news station that legal action would be pursued for every threat, stating, “We will file complaints every time; we will not let anything slide.”
He further explained that the number of threats has decreased slightly in recent days, attributing this to the government’s unwavering response.
In a specific incident at Lyon station in Paris, authorities have apprehended an individual, and legal proceedings are currently underway. Beaune also disclosed that there have been several attempted cyberattacks in addition to the bomb threats.
Furthermore, Beaune noted an almost twofold increase in reports of unattended luggage at both stations and airports. This development comes in the wake of heightened security measures, as France has escalated its counter-terrorism alert level to the highest setting.
This decision was made after the tragic murder of Dominique Bernard, a teacher at an Arras school, on October 13. The assailant was a young man previously identified as being at risk for Islamist radicalization.
Our major French airports were swiftly evacuated following bomb threats early this month. The rise in false bomb alarms has posed a severe challenge to French authorities, leading to significant disruptions.
Over the past week, a staggering 15 airports had been cleared, resulting in the cancellation of approximately 130 flights and even the temporary closure of the iconic Palace of Versailles – three times in just five days.
This series of disturbances has incited a stern response from the French government, which has now introduced stringent penalties including jail terms and hefty fines for those involved in raising these fraudulent alarms.
