Europe is facing a wave of new threats, including cyberattacks, bomb alarms against passenger flights, civil unrest and suspected acts of sabotage. These incidents have raised serious questions about the continent’s resilience and its readiness to protect itself against modern security risks. Experts warn that disruptions to everyday services could have consequences far beyond the immediate economic damage, underlining the urgent need to review defence and security strategies.
Last week, hackers remotely manipulated refrigeration systems in supermarkets across Europe, forcing retailers to dispose of spoiled food and exposing vulnerabilities in everyday infrastructure. Subsequently, the refrigeration systems of French blood banks were targeted in what appeared to be a similar incident. A wave of suspected bomb alerts, often hoaxes, disrupted dozens of flights across the continent, forcing diversions and, in some cases, escorts by fighter jets. The week culminated in bomb threats targeting European media outlets, including Sky News in the United Kingdom and the Irish public broadcaster RTÉ. These incidents are occurring against a backdrop of high geopolitical tensions and domestic unrest in parts of Europe, where civilian infrastructure is potentially becoming an increasingly attractive target for hostile actors.
Although authorities have not determined who is behind the attacks or whether they are linked, Sidharth Kaushal, a researcher at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), suggested that if Russia were responsible, such attacks could aim to demonstrate the costs of Europe’s continued support for Ukraine. Kaushal stressed that it is more about
Source: CNBC