1 hour ago
Flights from London, Copenhagen, Manchester and Israel affected by bomb threats
Jakub Krupa
If you are joining us now, we are following reports about at least four planes affected by bomb threats across Europe this morning: two in Poland (from the UK 10:33, 10:58, 12:00 and Denmark 11:33, 12:59), one in Bulgaria (from Israel 12:50), and one in Spain (from the UK 12:44).
All four of them landed safely and are being checked by security services. It may be nothing, but is highly unusual (particularly after another alert yesterday 10:44), so we are keeping a close eye on that.
Separately, we are keeping an eye on Berlin where Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy is just arriving to meet German chancellor Friedrich Merz on his previously unannounced high-security trip to Berlin.
We should hear from them in the next hour or so.
Key events 29m ago Flights from London, Copenhagen, Manchester and Israel affected by bomb threats 54m ago EU to host talks on Ukraine with EU, US, Nato, World Bank on Wednesday 2h ago Warsaw Modlin airport resumes operations after bomb threat reported on London flight 2h ago Berlin talks with Merz to focus on diplomacy, air defence, energy, Zelenskyy says 2h ago Merz hosts Lithuania's Nausėda ahead of Zelenskyy talks 2h ago Kremlin confirms Abu Dhabi talks with US, Ukraine next week 3h ago Warsaw Modlin airport closed after bomb threat reported on London flight 3h ago Russian attacks on Ukraine on US election day 'telling,' Zelenskyy says 4h ago Morning opening: Zelenskyy to make unexpected visit to Berlin for talks with Merz
Here are some more photos from Berlin where Zelenskyy is now taking part in talks with Merz (11:53).
Flights from London, Copenhagen, Manchester and Israel affected by bomb threats
Jakub Krupa
If you are joining us now, we are following reports about at least four planes affected by bomb threats across Europe this morning: two in Poland (from the UK 10:33, 10:58, 12:00 and Denmark 11:33, 12:59), one in Bulgaria (from Israel 12:50), and one in Spain (from the UK 12:44).
All four of them landed safely and are being checked by security services. It may be nothing, but is highly unusual (particularly after another alert yesterday 10:44), so we are keeping a close eye on that.
Separately, we are keeping an eye on Berlin where Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy is just arriving to meet German chancellor Friedrich Merz on his previously unannounced high-security trip to Berlin.
We should hear from them in the next hour or so.
The Scandinavian SAS airline has issued a brief statement confirming its earlier incident in Warsaw (11:33).
Note, that’s two separate incidents involving two separate flights in Warsaw – a PLL LOT flight from London Heathrow to Warsaw-Okęcie, diverted to Warsaw-Modlin (10:33, 10:58, 12:00), and a SAS flight from Copenhagen to Warsaw-Okęcie.
The airline said:
“We can confirm that a threat has been made against flight SK751 between Copenhagen and Warsaw. The aircraft landed normally in Warsaw and the passengers have disembarked.
We are following established security procedures while taking care of our passengers and crew. The matter is now being handled by the police in Warsaw, and we are following their instructions.
We refer any further questions regarding the threat to the relevant authorities and the police in Warsaw.”
And Reuters is reporting a fourth plane affected by a bomb threat this morning, this time in Bulgaria.
A plane flying from Israel landed at Sofia airport after a bomb threat was received by email, Reuters reported after local media, with counter-terrorism units deployed to check for possible explosive devices.
The airport’s website shows only one plane from Israel landing there this morning: an El Al service from Tel Aviv.
Bulgarian public broadcaster BNT reported that it was a part of a broader bomb threat alert, affecting “various institutions.”
Meanwhile, we are getting news about a third bomb threat issued against a plane in Europe this morning: this time it’s a Ryanair flight FR4116 from Manchester to Murcia in Spain.
The plane landed safely at Murcia airport. 114 passengers and 7 crew members safely disembarked the plane which is now being checked by security services.
The report was confirmed by the Spanish government’s delegate in the region of Murcia, Francisco Lucas, and reported by local media.
EU to host talks on Ukraine with EU, US, Nato, World Bank on Wednesday
The European Commission will host a meeting regarding Ukraine with representatives from the United States, Ukraine and its key European allies on Wednesday, Commission spokesperson Paula Pinho said.
“So tomorrow the European Commission will host a meeting with representatives from Ukraine, from the United States, France, Germany, the UK, Nato and the World Bank and this meeting will build on earlier talks that took place in Miami,” Pinho told reporters in Brussels.
United States’ envoy Steve Witkoff had said earlier that this meeting would take place in Brussels, Reuters added.
Warsaw Modlin airport resumes operations after bomb threat reported on London flight
Back to Poland, Warsaw Modlin airport says it has resumed operations after an earlier bomb threat – but a part of the airport where the London flight was parked remain closed and is being checked by security forces.
Berlin talks with Merz to focus on diplomacy, air defence, energy, Zelenskyy says
Ukraine’s Zelenskyy has said his talks with Merz and Germany’s president Steinmeier will focus on “diplomatic coordination” on air defence and energy sector.
He said:
“These will be the priorities of today’s talks. We all have an interest in security, stability, and protecting the rules-based international order. And we must work together to turn these principles into concrete decisions and actions.”
The Ukrainian president will also take part in today’s Berlin Security Conference.
Merz hosts Lithuania's Nausėda ahead of Zelenskyy talks
As reported earlier, we are expecting to see Zelenskyy in Berlin later today (9:47).
For now, German chancellor Merz is hosting Lithuania’s outspoken president Gitanas Nausėda.
There are clear signs of heightened security readiness in the area of the chancellery, with a drone-interception vehicle parked just outside.
Back to Poland briefly, Danish media are reporting that a separate threat was also reported in relation to an SAS flight from Copenhagen to Warsaw Okęcie, which also landed in the Polish capital this morning.
Danish newspaper BT is carrying pictures showing sniffer dogs deployed near the aircraft.
The Guardian understands the airport received a report about a potentially dangerous item on board of the SAS aircraft, and it is currently being assessed by security services.
Kremlin confirms Abu Dhabi talks with US, Ukraine next week
Back to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Kremlin confirmed that US-mediated Russia-Ukraine talks to end more than four years of war will take place in Abu Dhabi next week.
“The Russian delegation will arrive on 10-11 November in Abu Dhabi to take part in trilateral talks,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said, quoted by AFP.
He added that presidential aide and former culture minister Vladimir Medinsky will represent Moscow at the meeting.
AFP noted that Medinsky, who is 56 and previously served as culture minister, is known for his nationalistic views on Russian history and took part in previous failed talks.
In the latest update from Warsaw Modlin airport, passengers are now allowed to disembark from the plane, and will be asked to stay in the main terminal.
The airport said in a press statement:
“Further actions are being carried out in accordance with safety procedures. At this time, we are not providing any additional information regarding the operations of the emergency services.”
However, the port remains closed, it added.
The bomb alert comes just a day after a WizzAir flight from London Luton to Bulgaria’s Sofia was redirected to Budapest after a reported mid-air bomb threat.
After careful inspection, it proved to be a false alarm.
I will keep an eye on updates from Poland today.
Warsaw Modlin airport closed after bomb threat reported on London flight
Meanwhile, I am also following reports from Poland after a Polish LOT airline flight from London Heathrow made an unplanned landing at Warsaw Modlin airport following a bomb alert.
The airport – the Polish capital’s secondary port, located just north of Warsaw – has just confirmed that L0286 flight from Heathrow to Warsaw Okęcie, with 181 people on board of a Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, landed safely in Modlin.
The plane will be inspected by security services, and the airport remains closed until further notice.
Russian attacks on Ukraine on US election day 'telling,' Zelenskyy says
Before arriving in Berlin, Ukraine’s Zelenskyy condemned Russia’s overnight attacks on critical infrastructure across the country, which he said were causing “emergency and unscheduled power outages”.
He said the attacks – which involved 289 drones, 59 cruise missiles and 17 ballistic missiles – also hit civilian buildings, including a city hospital in Kharkiv, where 73 people were injured.
“A rescue operation has also been underway since yesterday in Komyshuvakha, in the Zaporizhzhia region. Tragically, the death toll has risen. Russia has killed 29 people.”
He added:
“It is very telling that all of this is happening on the day of the US congressional elections. The Russians believe that America will not notice this signal from them. But such terror must be noticed and stopped. Ukraine must be helped to defend its skies, otherwise Russia will never stop its missile strikes. It is essential to help build peace honestly and reliably, and America can do that.”
Morning opening: Zelenskyy to make unexpected visit to Berlin for talks with Merz
Jakub Krupa
Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to make an unexpected visit to Berlin for talks with German chancellor Friedrich Merz ahead of next week’s trilateral talks with Russia and the US in Abu Dhabi.
The rumours about Zelenskyy’s potential visit started swirling last night, with Merz confirming the visit during an industry speech this morning. The Ukrainian president’s trips are usually kept secret until the last moment for security reasons.
Recalling the infamous showdown between Zelenskyy and Trump at the White House last year, Merz said:
“He’ll be here with me just after midday, and things will be a bit different then.”
In his speech, Merz said the German push to rapidly increase its defence spending last year was triggered by the scenes in the Oval Office.
“What we experienced last year … led me to conclude that we must ensure, on our own, that we are capable of defending ourselves in Europe,” he said.
He added that this was not meant to question Nato, but strengthen it. “We are making Nato more European so it can remain transatlantic,” he said.
Elsewhere, we are expecting updates from Sweden, with a second parliamentary vote on the new government, which is expected to fail once again (51 days on from elections).
We should also get some lines from Spain, where transport minister Óscar Puente is will present new ideas on reforming high-speed rail after last week’s tragic crash in Toledo before facing a parliamentary committee.
We are also likely to see developments in Poland after last weekend’s protests over the country’s constitutional tribunal, and in Belgium amid continuing uncertainty about Bart De Wever’s government.
Lots for us to cover.
It’s Tuesday, 3 November 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
Good morning.
