RTÉ's Donnybrook headquarters and other media offices in Ireland were evacuated on Friday after a bomb threat was sent via email, with gardaí conducting searches and sniffer dogs on site.
The threat email was received by RTÉ on Friday morning, prompting the evacuation of staff from the Donnybrook campus. The broadcaster moved to pre-recorded programmes as a precaution, although its Today programme on Radio 1 remained on air. The offices of Mediahaus and Independent News Media on Talbot Street in Dublin were also evacuated, while Virgin Media, which also received the threat, continued broadcasting.
The threat is believed to be linked to a series of hoax bomb threats that affected at least 27 flights across Europe the previous day, including Aer Lingus and Ryanair services, according to RTÉ.
Gardaí said they were aware of a threat made against media organisations here and in Europe and were liaising with Irish media organisations. They said the threats would be investigated.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said gardaí and the Defence Forces were investigating, but it was too early to say if the threats came from an individual or were coordinated. Speaking on RTÉ's Today programme, he said: “It is a matter for experts to asses,” and added that he would “prefer to get a more comprehensive security briefing” later in the day. He said the Government was confident it had measures in place ahead of next week's EU meetings of leaders in Dublin.
Tánaiste Simon Harris described the situation as “very serious” and “evolving in real time”. He said it was not yet known who was responsible or whether it was an individual or coordinated effort. He said he wanted people to know that gardaí, security forces and cyber experts were working on the issue and would liaise as appropriate with European counterparts.
Social Democrats media spokesperson Sinéad Gibney said the threats “deserve the strongest possible condemnation”. She said that in a time when more journalists globally are facing violence and intimidation, the safety of those working in these organisations must be paramount, and we must resist attempts to silence and threaten our media.
RTÉ said normal services would resume as soon as possible following consultation with gardaí.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The coordinated nature of the threats across multiple media outlets in Ireland and the UK, possibly linked to hoax bomb threats against flights, raises concerns about a broader campaign to disrupt and intimidate media organisations.
- The incident occurs ahead of next week's EU meetings in Dublin, highlighting security challenges for high-profile events.
- It underscores the increasing vulnerability of journalists and media institutions to intimidation, a global trend noted by the Social Democrats spokesperson.
Background
The threat email on Friday morning led to the evacuation of RTÉ's headquarters and other media offices in Dublin and across the UK. The threat is believed to be connected to a series of hoax bomb threats that targeted at least 27 flights across Europe the previous day, including flights operated by Aer Lingus and Ryanair. Gardaí are investigating the threats, and political leaders have condemned the actions while urging caution.
Key Perspectives
- Gardaí: say they are aware of a threat made against media organisations in Ireland and Europe, are liaising with Irish media organisations, and will investigate the threats.
- Taoiseach Micheál Martin: says it is too early to say if the threats come from an individual or are coordinated; the matter is for experts to assess, and he prefers to get a more comprehensive security briefing before making further judgments.
- Tánaiste Simon Harris: describes the situation as very serious and evolving in real time; says it is not yet known who is responsible or whether it is an individual or coordinated effort, but assures that gardaí, security forces and cyber experts are working on the issue and liaising with European counterparts.
- Social Democrats media spokesperson Sinéad Gibney: says the threats deserve the strongest possible condemnation; emphasises that in a time when more journalists globally face violence and intimidation, the safety of media staff must be paramount, and calls for resistance against attempts to silence and threaten the media.
What to Watch
- Whether gardaí identify the source of the threat and if it is linked to the previous day's hoax bomb threats on flights.
- The impact on next week's EU leaders' meetings in Dublin and any additional security measures.
- Any further threats to media outlets or other institutions in Ireland and the UK in the coming days.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.
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- SupportedRTÉ and other media outlets were evacuated after a bomb threat email.RTÉ News: “RTÉ and other media organisations around the country have been evacuated following a bomb threat. The alarm was raised after an email was sent to the national broadcaster this morning”
- SupportedGardaí were investigating, and Taoiseach Micheál Martin said it was too early to know whether the threat came from an individual or a coordinated effort.RTÉ News: “Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said gardaí and the Defence Forces are investigating the threats which have been made to RTÉ, Newstalk and other organisations, but it is too early to say if the threats come from an individual or have been coordinated.”
- SupportedRTÉ’s Donnybrook headquarters and other media offices in Ireland were evacuated on Friday after an email threat; gardaí searched the buildings with sniffer dogs on site.RTÉ News: “Presenters and staff have been evacuated from the buildings on the Donnybrook campus and gardaí are at the scene. [...] The buildings are being searched at the moment, with garda sniffer dogs on site.”
- SupportedRTÉ switched to pre-recorded programmes as a precaution, while its Today programme on Radio 1 remained on air.RTÉ News: “RTÉ has moved to pre-recorded programmes as a precautionary measure, however RTÉ's Today programme on Radio 1 remains on air from the broadcaster's roadcaster.”
- SupportedThe offices of Mediahaus and Independent News Media on Talbot Street in Dublin were evacuated.RTÉ News: “The offices of Mediahaus and Independent News Media have also evacuated its offices on Talbot Street in Dublin as a precautionary measure.”
- SupportedVirgin Media also received the threat but continued broadcasting without evacuating.RTÉ News: “Virgin Media also received the threat but have not evacuated and continue to broadcast.”
- SupportedThe threat was believed to be linked to hoax bomb threats affecting at least 27 flights across Europe the previous day, including Aer Lingus and Ryanair flights.RTÉ News: “The threat purportedly comes from those behind a series of hoax bomb threats which affected at least 27 flights across Europe yesterday, as well as further alerts earlier in the week. Some Aer Lingus and Ryanair flights were among those impacted.”
- SupportedGardaí said they were aware of threats against media organisations in Ireland and Europe, had been liaising with Irish media organisations, and would investigate.RTÉ News: “In a statement, gardaí said they are "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."”
- SupportedMartin said it was too early to know whether the threats were the work of an individual or were coordinated.RTÉ News: “it is too early to say if the threats come from an individual or have been coordinated.”
- SupportedMartin said, “It is a matter for experts to asses,” and that he would “prefer to get a more comprehensive security briefing” later that day.RTÉ News: “"It is a matter for experts to asses," he said, adding that he would "prefer to get a more comprehensive security briefing" later today.”
- SupportedHarris described the situation as “very serious” and “evolving in real time,” and said it was not yet known whether an individual or a coordinated effort was responsible.RTÉ News: “Tánaiste Simon Harris described the situation as "very serious". [...] Mr Harris said the situation was "evolving in real time." [...] "We don’t yet know who is responsible for what is happening this morning. We don’t yet know whether its an individual behind this effort or some form of a coordinated effort."”
- Partly supportedGibney said the threats “deserve the strongest possible condemnation” and that more journalists globally are facing violence and intimidation.RTÉ News: “Social Democrats media spokesperson Sinéad Gibney said the threats made against the media organisations "deserve the strongest possible condemnation". "In a time where more and more journalists globally are facing violence and intimidation"”