BBC:
The “Male State”, an extremist misogynistic group named in this week’s hoax bomb threats to Italian airports, has denied any link to the false warnings causing flight disruption across Europe.
The comments to the BBC came as reports of more bomb scares to airlines began appearing, including on a Ryanair flight from Rome to Lisbon and a Wizz Air flight from Prague to Rome which was diverted to Venice.
Bomb threats were also reported to a number of high-profile Irish media organisations on Friday, prompting evacuations and a statement from the Irish government suggesting a “co-ordinated campaign of disruption”.
Replying to the BBC Russian Service, an account on Telegram – one of several linked to the so-called “Male State” and its founder Vladislav Pozdnyakov – mocked any suggestion the group was involved in emailing the threats.
“What Male State? Where have you seen it? It hasn’t existed for many years,” the message on the channel reads. “If tomorrow they sign a [threat] letter, say, from Putin, will you then try to reach our president to ask your stupid question?”
The group was banned in Russia in 2021 and Pozdnyakov is now thought to live abroad. It has since renamed itself in some places as “Male Legion”.
The initial hoax email, seen by the BBC, was sent on Thursday at 07:21 with the subject title: warning of a threat.
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