Bomb threats are on the increase in France, with airports in Montpellier, Nantes-Atlantique, Bordeaux-Atlantique, and Lille-Lesquin evacuated following threats on Thursday morning, BFMTV reports.
Lille, Lyon (Bron), Nantes, Nice, Toulouse, Beauvais Airports were also evacuated on Wednesday.
As the Hérault Prefect indicated on X (formerly Twitter), police officers were present at Montpellier Airport "to establish a security perimeter." The bomb squad was also called in "to clear up any doubts."
⚠️🚨 Alerte à la bombe à l’aéroport de #Montpellier @MPLaeroport 🔹évacuation et mise en sécurité des personnes 🔹forces de l’ordre présentes sur site pour établir un périmètre de sécurité 🔹démineurs déclenchés pour une levée de doutes. pic.twitter.com/8A8I5THORm
— Préfet de l'Hérault 🇫🇷 (@Prefet34) October 19, 2023
Tweet translation: Bomb alert at #Montpellier airport: people evacuated and brought to safety; law enforcement agencies on site to set up a security perimeter; detectors triggered to clear up any doubts.
Meanwhile, the evacuation of Lille-Lesquin Airport began at around 10:30 and involved 300 passengers, according to information obtained by BFM Grand Lille. The operation was completed shortly before noon and is gradually being reopened.
Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport was also evacuated on Thursday. "Activities at the airport are gradually resuming," it announced shortly before 13:00.
The daily Ouest-France reported threats received by email concerning Nantes-Atlantiques Airport, which had already been evacuated on Wednesday. The regional newspaper has now reported a return to normal.
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These bomb scares follow the evacuation of Ostend Airport on Wednesday. The City of Ostend announced that the airport would be closed after receiving threatening mail and security forces checked the entire premises as a precautionary measure. No passengers were present but about 50 airport staff had to leave the building.
Two squares in Ghent were also evacuated on Wednesday after the discovery of a suspicious package.
