Staff at Ireland's national broadcaster RTÉ have returned to their offices after a bomb threat led to the evacuation of its television and radio headquarters in Dublin. The emailed threats, which the Irish Government described as “very serious,” were also sent to other media organisations in Ireland on Friday morning.
Evacuation and Response
Gardaí were called to the Donnybrook campus, where sniffer dogs carried out searches of the area, which has now been declared safe. RTÉ Radio One went off air around 9am on Friday, replacing its programme Today With David McCullagh with a pre-recorded programme of music. The show returned later in the morning, with McCullagh presenting from a mobile broadcasting truck as gardaí continued to search the buildings.
Staff, including radio and television presenters at the Montrose campus, were told to leave the studio buildings after the email was received. Children being looked after in a creche on site were also evacuated. RTÉ director-general Kevin Bakhurst joined staff members outside the station's mobile broadcast vehicle as they awaited updates.
Threat Details and Reactions
McCullagh told listeners the threat warned of a bomb which would explode within 45 minutes. Threats were also sent to Virgin Media, Newstalk and the Irish Independent. RTÉ presenter Sarah McInerney said the sender of the email claimed to have been part of a group responsible for other recent threats against airlines, and had claimed an operative had planted an explosive device in the building.
Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan said the threats were being taken “very seriously” and are being investigated by gardaí. Taoiseach Micheál Martin said that having spoken to the Garda Commissioner and “officials involved in security,” he is of the view the emails sent to media organisations in Ireland, the UK, and Europe are part of a Europe-wide co-ordinated approach.
Context and Investigation
The incidents came after bomb threats were sent to airlines across Europe, including one targeting flights from Dublin, over recent days. The emailed threats to media outlets were received ahead of a week when Ireland will host two major European political summits as part of its six-month presidency of the EU Council.
Speaking at an attestation ceremony for Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) student officers in Belfast, Mr Martin said there would be a significant security operation in place for the EU summits in Dublin next week, but that it is important to note that so far none of the threats have come to fruition. Tánaiste Simon Harris said the Government is “alive” to the risks associated with the types of threats received by Irish media outlets on Friday.
A Garda spokesperson said: “An Garda Síochána is aware of a threat made against media organisations here and in Europe. An Garda Síochána has been liaising with the Irish media organisations and the threats will be investigated.”
