Wave of hoax bomb threats hit popular Budapest baths again!

Popular Budapest baths fell victim to false bomb threats again yesterday morning. As a result, all visitors had to leave the facilities during the police investigation.

According to telex.hu, Sarolta Réthy, the communications expert of the Budapest Spas cPlc., confirmed the media outlet’s information about the bomb threat yesterday morning. Later that day, the Lukács and Széchenyi Baths had to be evacuated.

Telex.hu received

photos from their readers which show ambulance cars waiting at the Rudas Bath.

Therefore, they asked the National Ambulance Service (OMSZ) whether anybody was in need of medical care in the bath. They promised to reply later that day, but telex.hu did not post any updates.

It was not the first time that Budapest baths received bomb threats. In mid-May, several baths were subject to such threats. Meanwhile, in April, there were bomb threats in many Budapest malls and even in the Museum of Fine Arts. Furthermore, a fire broke out in the Lukács Bath’s sauna a couple of weeks ago.

• Read also: Budapest receives new bomb threats!

Telex updated their article in the afternoon quoting the official reply of the Budapest Police Headquarters. On 7 June, the police reported that several institutions in Budapest received bomb threats. They added that the relevant Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) inspection is in progress, and they will take the necessary measures.

Interestingly, neither of the three baths communicated the bomb threats on their official website or Facebook page. However, on Lukács Bath’s website, there is a red coloured warning message saying that the facility is unavailable via phone. Of course, it might not have any connection with yesterday’s bomb threat. However, some photos on Facebook show guests being evacuated from Széchenyi Bath yesterday.

Magyar Nemzet reported that the guests, including many foreigners, waited patiently until the authorities finished their work. They added that

Paskál Beach in Budapest had to be evacuated too.

In the case of Paskál Beach, a man phoned in saying that a bomb would explode in a short time. The three other baths received threats via email, rtl.hu wrote. The relevant law says that, in such cases, there is no room for hesitation: everybody has to leave the buildings immediately. 

József Horváth, the security policy expert of the Alapjogokért Központ (Center for Fundamental Rights), said that foreign interests and hybrid warfare are behind the threats. He added that the coordination behind the threats was obvious. The goals of the anonym phone calls are

to create disturbance and weaken people’s belief in public safety,

Mr Horváth said. 

Fortunately, police found nothing so the guests were able to return to the buildings and pools later that day.

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Source: telex.hu, lukacsfurdo.hu, Magyar Nemzet