Bomb scare forces 1,500 cruise passengers off ship in Greece

An Israel-bound cruise ship was evacuated at a Greek island port after an anonymous bomb threat sparked an extensive security operation, leaving more than 1,500 passengers and crew waiting for the all-clear.

The incident unfolded on Tuesday, November 3, when Greek authorities received a warning claiming an explosive device had been attached to the hull of the Crown Iris, which was docked at the port of Syros in the Aegean Sea.

The Panama-flagged vessel, operated by Israeli company Mano Maritime, was preparing to depart for Haifa in northern Israel when the threat was reported.

A total of 940 passengers and 597 crew members were on board, prompting an immediate security response.

Passengers forced to leave cruise ship

Authorities ordered passengers and crew to disembark while specialists began inspecting the vessel.

The operation involved Greek Coast Guard personnel, an explosives-detection dog and a private diver, who helped investigate the possibility of a device being attached to the ship’s hull.

A specialist Coast Guard diving unit was also deployed to carry out further checks.

Initial inspections found no suspicious objects or evidence of explosives. However, authorities continued with additional security procedures before allowing the vessel to resume its journey.

Passengers were left waiting ashore during the operation, with some reportedly taking shelter in a nearby hotel.

According to accounts from passengers reported by Israeli media, crew members distributed water and chairs to those waiting, while elderly travellers and families with children were accommodated indoors.

Despite the disruption, passengers reportedly remained calm as they awaited confirmation that it was safe to return.

Full search finds no explosives

A subsequent, more comprehensive inspection of the Crown Iris also failed to uncover any suspicious devices.

Passengers and crew were subsequently permitted to return aboard, with the ship expected to continue its journey to Haifa.

Greek authorities have not publicly identified the person responsible for the anonymous warning, and no confirmed link has been established between the cruise ship incident and other security alerts reported across Europe.

Wave of bomb threats disrupts European travel

The cruise ship scare came amid an unusual series of bomb threats affecting passenger transport across Europe on Tuesday.

At least seven commercial flights travelling to destinations in Poland, Italy, Spain and Bulgaria were targeted by similar warnings, triggering aircraft inspections, diversions and temporary disruption at airports.

Among the incidents was a Ryanair service travelling from Manchester to Murcia in southern Spain, which underwent security checks after a bomb threat was reported.

A flight from Dublin to Rome was also escorted by Italian Air Force fighter jets before landing safely, while another aircraft travelling from London Heathrow to Warsaw was diverted to a nearby airport.

Authorities inspected the affected aircraft, but no explosives were discovered. Investigators have yet to establish who made the threats or whether the incidents were connected.

The unusual concentration of security alerts has raised questions about potential coordinated disruption, although officials have cautioned against drawing conclusions before investigations are completed.