Bomb Threats Target US, Israel, Egypt Embassies in Athens

Police in Greece were placed on high alert on Friday after phone calls to TV stations warned about the placement of bombs in the embassies of Israel, Egypt, and the US in Athens, as well as at the Parliament.

Special bomb squad teams who rushed to the embassy buildings in Athens have not yet found any explosive devices, leading experts to assume it was probably a hoax.

The alert was sounded after callers said that, at 11:30 AM local time, bombs would explode in the embassies and the Parliament.

Reports say that a phone call to SKAI TV warned of a bomb at the US embassy, another call to Kontra TV notified about a bomb at the Israeli embassy, and a third call to Open TV alerted to a threat at the Egyptian embassy. It is not clear whether the phone calls were placed by the same person.

No organization, so far, has claimed responsibility for the bomb threats.

Embassies of the US and Israel in Athens are on high alert

Embassies of the US and Israel around the world are on high alert since the war in Gaza began in October last year.

The US Embassy in Athens has advised US citizens to exercise increased caution. “Due to increased tensions in various locations around the world, the potential for terrorist attacks, demonstrations or violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests, the Department of State advises U.S. citizens overseas to exercise increased caution,” it has said.

It advised US citizens to stay alert in locations frequented by tourists, enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive information and alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency overseas, and follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter.

Meanwhile, Israeli embassies around the world were reportedly put on high alert in December, with some of them staying closed entirely following a blast that rattled the embassy in India.

Israelis around the globe have been cautioned to be on alert since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war, which has fueled and intensified anti-Israel sentiment in parts of the world.

The National Security Council recommended that Israelis reconsider all travel abroad and called on those who do need to travel overseas to avoid outward displays of their Jewish and Israeli identities amid rising antisemitism around the world as Israel fights the Hamas terror group in Gaza.

The advisory called for avoiding crowded areas such as malls and markets, as well as sites associated with Jews and Israelis, being extra vigilant in public places, refraining from the display of Israeli symbols, and avoiding crowded events that aren’t secured. The sharing of photos on social media that could reveal Israelis’ locations should also be avoided.