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Who is behind Europe’s suspected hybrid attacks?
Italy says civilian infrastructure across Europe is “under attack” after a series of apparent false bomb threats disrupted aviation this week. The incidents, alongside cyberattacks on supermarket freezers, have fuelled concerns about a possible wider campaign of hybrid attacks and the ability of European countries to respond together.
The bomb threats led to grounded flights and heightened airport alerts, but searches found no explosives. Separately, hackers targeted supermarket freezers in several countries, raising temperatures and spoiling food. The report examines who may be behind the incidents and whether they are connected, with input from security and defence specialists.
In short
- Apparent bomb threats disrupted flights across Europe.
- Cyberattacks caused supermarket freezer temperatures to rise.
- The incidents raise questions about a coordinated campaign.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The incidents’ timing and spread across borders could support the concern that a state or state-linked actor is testing European infrastructure and exploiting gaps in coordination. Even without physical damage from the threats, the disruption and spoiled food show how relatively low-cost tactics can impose real costs and unsettle the public, warranting a joined-up response while investigators establish what happened.
The case against
The available facts do not establish that the incidents are connected or state-directed: the bomb searches found no explosives, and the freezer cyberattacks may have separate causes. Treating unrelated or unverified events as a coordinated campaign risks overstating the evidence and escalating tensions, so officials should distinguish confirmed findings from suspicion and avoid attributing responsibility prematurely.
Cybersecurity Europe Technology World