Martin confident of EU summit safety after bomb threats

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has expressed confidence that the upcoming EU summits in Dublin will proceed safely despite receiving hoax bomb threats. These threats came after airlines across Europe also faced hoax bomb alerts, including flights departing from Dublin. Irish police (An Garda Síochána) will carry out their largest-ever security operation, with more than 50 prime ministers visiting Dublin for the European Political Community summit on Thursday, followed by an informal EU Council meeting the next day.

The events are part of Ireland's six-month presidency of the EU Council. However, the Garda Representative Association will engage in a five-day work-to-rule action coinciding with the events.

RTÉ was targeted with a threatening email, which led to a security alert and the evacuation of its TV and radio studios and offices. Programs went off air for a period, but staff were allowed back later and broadcasting resumed. The Taoiseach appeared on the Late Late Show to address the incidents, stating that the security operation for the summits is the largest in the history of the State.

Martin mentioned that the preparation involved the Garda, Defense Forces, and the Cyber Security Centre. He also noted that the rise in hybrid attacks across Europe in recent times, linked to Russia, is a concern.

The Taoiseach stated that the threats to media outlets, airlines, and supermarket refrigeration systems were coordinated. RTÉ, Virgin Media, Newstalk, and the Irish Independent received threats. Gardaí were called to RTÉ's Donnybrook campus, where sniffer dogs were used to search the area, which was later declared safe. RTÉ Radio One went off air, and staff were evacuated, with children in a creche also being evacuated.

RTÉ Director General Kevin Bakhurst joined staff outside the station's mobile broadcast vehicle for updates on the search. The threat warned of a bomb that would explode within 45 minutes.

Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan stated that the threats are being taken very seriously and are under investigation by the Garda. Europe, he said, has increasingly become the target of various hybrid attacks, which are becoming more complex and sophisticated. The government is alive to the risks and is working to identify the culprits. Tánaiste Simon Harris assured the public that the government is taking these risks seriously, and they are working with European counterparts to address the issue.