Current:Home > ContactFrench officials suspect young people in rash of fake bomb threats, warn of heavy punishments -RiskWatch
French officials suspect young people in rash of fake bomb threats, warn of heavy punishments
View
Date:2025-04-17 05:19:29
PARIS (AP) — France’s government is threatening prison terms and heavy fines for callers who make fake bomb threats after a rash of false alarms forced the evacuation of 15 airports and cancellation of 130 flights and shut the doors of Versailles Palace three times in five days.
French officials suggested young people and children may be responsible. Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti blamed “little jokers, little clowns” and vowed, “They will be found, they will be punished.”
French law allows prank calls to be punished by up to 3 years’ imprisonment and fines of 45,000 euros ($47,000), the minister said. He said minors’ parents could be made to pay for damages.
“We don’t need this. We don’t need troublemakers, psychosis, at this moment,” he said Wednesday.
France has been on heightened alert since the fatal stabbing of a schoolteacher last week that was blamed on a suspected Islamic extremist who allegedly declared allegiance to the Islamic State group.
A funeral service for Dominique Bernard, the French language teacher killed by a knife wound to the neck, was held Thursday in Arras, the northern town where he taught at the Gambetta-Carnot school.
French Transport Minister Clement Beaune said false threats were made against 17 airports on Wednesday, causing widespread disruption, the evacuation of 15 airports, cancellation of 130 flights and many flight delays.
“These false alerts are not bad jokes. They are crimes,” Beaune posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
veryGood! (31)
Related
- Bodycam footage shows high
- ‘Superfog’ made of fog and marsh fire smoke blamed for traffic pileups, road closures in Louisiana
- How Taylor Swift Made Drew Barrymore Feel Ready to Fill the Blank Space in Her Love Life
- Bad blood in Texas: Astros can clinch World Series trip with win vs. Rangers in ALCS Game 6
- Trump issues order to ban transgender troops from serving openly in the military
- Israeli boy marks 9th birthday in Hamas captivity as family faces agonizing wait
- Israel strikes across Gaza after allowing another small aid convoy into the besieged enclave
- Here's what 'wealthy' means in 2023 America, in five numbers
- Pregnant Kylie Kelce Shares Hilarious Question Her Daughter Asked Jason Kelce Amid Rising Fame
- Georgetown coach Tasha Butts dies after 2-year battle with breast cancer
Ranking
- Tree trimmer dead after getting caught in wood chipper at Florida town hall
- Do manmade noise and light harm songbirds in New Mexico’s oil fields? These researchers want to know
- 5 Things podcast: Will California's Black reparations to address slavery pass?
- Convicted killer known as the Zombie Hunter says life on death row is cold, food is not great
- The city of Chicago is ordered to pay nearly $80M for a police chase that killed a 10
- Think your job is hard? Try managing an NBA team to win a championship
- Russia taking heavy losses as it wages new offensive in Ukraine
- Kim Kardashian Gives a Sweet Shoutout to Kourtney Kardashian After Sister Misses Her Birthday Dinner
Recommendation
Kylie Jenner Shows Off Sweet Notes From Nieces Dream Kardashian & Chicago West
US journalist denied release, faces lengthy sentence in Russia on foreign agent charges
Warrant says Minnesota investigators found meth in house after gunbattle that wounded 5 officers
A new benefit at top companies: College admissions counseling
The Best Stocking Stuffers Under $25
Ecuador's drug lords are building narco-zoos as status symbols. The animals are paying the price.
Gwyneth Paltrow has new line of Goop products, prepares for day 'no one will ever see me again'
'Killers of the Flower Moon' is a true story, but it underplays extent of Osage murders