Multiple french airports evacuated over bomb threat call-ins

HOAX CALLS AND SUSPICIOUS PACKAGES HAVE CAUSED THE EVACUATION OF HUNDREDS OF PASSENGERS A number of airports in France evacuated passengers this morning (October 18) after a host of hoax

bomb threats were made. Airports including Paris Beauvais, Nantes, Bordeaux, Toulouse, and Lille, amongst others, have been impacted, with at least 12 airports reportedly being affected.

Suspicious packages in airports including Nice were also cited as a reason for evacuations, alongside the call-in threats. In some, flights were delayed from taking off and passengers

landing were left to wait inside their planes or on the runways until an all-clear had been given. All threats so far have been declared hoaxes, with no explosions confirmed, and no injuries

recorded. Most of the airports affected have resumed normal service. THREATS CAUSE DELAYS TO FLIGHTS The calls and notifications of suspicious packages took place this morning, with

security authorities across France currently on high alert. France’s Interior Ministry confirmed numerous threats had been made, and told _Le Parisien _that “precautionary measures were

being applied,” at airports. This video posted on X (formerly Twitter) shows passengers at Toulouse-Blagnac airport being evacuated: > l’aéroport de toulouse évacué mais que se passe-t-il

 ? 🤨🤨 > pic.twitter.com/SaqbyGrFLr > — lou anne (@pyjamay_) October 18, 2023 Airport social media pages announced the evacuations, with some staff using explosive detectors before

giving the all-clear and allowing passengers to return. > Aéroport de Lille en cours d’évacuation suite à une alerte à > la bombe.   >  > Les services de sécurité de l’État sont 

sur place. > — Aeroport de Lille✈ (@Aeroport_Lille) October 18, 2023 A combination of the temporary raising of France’s Vigipirate system to its highest level, and the increased tension

over events in the Middle East, is causing security forces to be extra vigilant. READ MORE: FRANCE PLACED ON HIGHEST SECURITY ALERT - WHAT CHANGES FOR THE PUBLIC? BOMB THREATS MULTIPLY IN

RECENT DAYS – WHAT IS THE PUNISHMENT? In addition to the bomb threats at airports the Château de Versailles was evacuated earlier today. “Dear visitors, for security reasons, the Château is

evacuating visitors. We thank you for your cooperation,” said a post on social media after the threat. > 🇫🇷 Chers visiteurs, pour des raisons de sécurité, le > château de Versailles 

évacue les visiteurs. Nous vous remercions > de votre compréhension. pic.twitter.com/AkkmYYMwDx > — Château de Versailles (@CVersailles) October 18, 2023 It is the third time in the

last week that the tourist attraction has been evacuated due to bomb threats. The prefecture of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region posted on X that a bomb threat to Lyon-Bron airport had been

declared a hoax earlier in the day. > 🟢 FAUSSE ALERTE À LA BOMBE à l'aéroport d'affaires de #Bron >  > Le fait de communiquer une fausse info dans le but de faire croire

> qu'une destruction dangereuse pour les personnes va être commise > est puni de 2ans d'emprisonnement et 30K€ >  > Levée de doute effectuée par les démineurs > 

pic.twitter.com/mvcMewJ5ht > — Préfète de région Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes et du Rhône > (@prefetrhone) October 18, 2023 The post also reminded people that the punishment for calling in a

fake bomb alert (either by telephone or email) was a potential two-year jail sentence and a €30,000 fine. READ ALSO WHAT IS FRANCE’S VIGIPIRATE ALERT SYSTEM? BRITON WHO PUT HAND UP FLIGHT

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