Russia denies it was behind US bomb hoaxes or incendiary devices on planes

Security officials said separately that parcels that exploded at logistics depots in Europe were part of a test run for a Russian plot to trigger explosions on cargo flights to the United States.

 Poll watchers observe at the Exposition Building during the 2024 U.S. presidential election on Election Day in Portland, Maine, U.S., November 5, 2024.  (photo credit: Faith Ninivaggi/Reuters)
Poll watchers observe at the Exposition Building during the 2024 U.S. presidential election on Election Day in Portland, Maine, U.S., November 5, 2024.
(photo credit: Faith Ninivaggi/Reuters)

Russia denied on Wednesday it was behind hoax bomb threats toward polling sites  on US Election Day and rejected reports of an alleged Russian plot to place incendiary devices on planes to the United States.

Hoax bomb threats, many of which appeared to originate from Russian email domains, were directed on Tuesday at polling locations in five battleground states - Georgia, Michigan, Arizona, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania - as Election Day voting was underway, the FBI said.

Security officials said separately that parcels that exploded at logistics depots in Europe were part of a test run for a Russian plot to trigger explosions on cargo flights to the United States.

Following the projected election results, the Kremlin reacted cautiously on Wednesday after Donald Trump was elected president, saying the US was still a hostile state and that only time would tell if Trump's rhetoric on ending the Ukraine war translated into reality. 

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Trump had made some important statements about wanting to end the Ukraine war during his campaign, but only time would tell if they led to action. 

 Kremlin's Spokesman Dmitry Peskov waits before a meeting of Russia's President Vladimir Putin with Indonesia's President-elect Prabowo Subianto in Moscow, Russia July 31, 2024. (credit: MAXIM SHEMETOV/REUTERS)
Kremlin's Spokesman Dmitry Peskov waits before a meeting of Russia's President Vladimir Putin with Indonesia's President-elect Prabowo Subianto in Moscow, Russia July 31, 2024. (credit: MAXIM SHEMETOV/REUTERS)

"Let us not forget that we are talking about an unfriendly country, which is both directly and indirectly involved in a war against our state," Peskov told reporters. 

Peskov said he was not aware of any plans by President Vladimir Putin to congratulate Trump on his victory and that relations with Washington were at a historic low.