Cyberattacks, bomb threats against passenger flights, civil unrest and suspected acts of sabotage across Europe have raised questions about the continent's resilience — and how prepared it is to defend itself against modern security threats.
Hackers remotely manipulated refrigeration systems at supermarkets across Europe last week, forcing retailers to discard spoiled food and exposing vulnerabilities in everyday infrastructure.
French blood-bank refrigeration systems were subsequently targeted in what appeared to be a similar incident, while a wave of suspected hoax bomb threats disrupted dozens of flights across the continent, forcing diversions and, in some cases, fighter jet escorts.
The week culminated with bomb threats targeting European news outlets, including the U.K.'s Sky News and Irish public broadcaster RTÉ.
The incidents come against a backdrop of heightened geopolitical tensions and domestic unrest across parts of Europe, with civilian infrastructure potentially becoming an increasingly attractive target for hostile actors.