RTÉ and other media groups evacuated after bomb threat
Ireland's national broadcaster RTÉ and several major media organisations evacuated their offices following an emailed bomb threat linked to wider European alerts.
RTÉ and other media groups evacuated after bomb threat
Ireland's national broadcaster RTÉ and a wave of major media organisations were forced to evacuate their studios and offices on Friday morning after receiving an emailed bomb warning. RTÉ Radio One went off air initially, replacing its usual schedule with pre-recorded music before presenter David McCullagh returned to broadcast from a mobile vehicle outside the Montrose campus. Other news organisations across Dublin, including Newstalk, the Irish Independent, and Mediahaus and Independent News Media on Talbot Street, also emptied their buildings as gardaí and emergency services rushed to the scenes.
The security alert reached far beyond Ireland, with authorities noting that scores of media outlets across Britain and Europe received similar warnings. While Virgin Media also received the email warning, the broadcaster chose not to evacuate and continued to broadcast.
How did the media organisations respond to the alert?
Staff at RTÉ's Donnybrook headquarters in Dublin 4 were told to leave the studio buildings on Friday morning after an email warned that a device was going to go off within 45 minutes. Scores of staff gathered outside the campus as gardaí, including members of the Armed Response Unit and officers with sniffer dogs, conducted searches of the newsrooms and studios. An audio message broadcast on RTÉ apologised for the interruption to the usual schedule while trying to get things back on track.
In a statement, RTÉ said: RTÉ, along with a range of media organisations, received a threat this morning. In line with our security and safety protocols, the campus has been evacuated and some services are affected. Gardaí are on site in Donnybrook.
The disruption extended to other newsrooms in the capital. Staff at the Irish Independent and the Dublin offices of radio stations Newstalk and TodayFM left their offices, while Mediahaus and Independent News Media evacuated their Talbot Street premises. Employees planning to travel into the office were advised to work from home until the alert is over. Mr McCullagh later resumed broadcasting his Today With David McCullagh programme from the station's mobile broadcast vehicle while gardai continue to search the newsrooms and studios.
What are the authorities and government officials saying?
An Garda Síochána confirmed they were aware of a threat made against media organisations here and in Europe
and stated they were liaising with the affected Irish media organisations and the threats would be investigated. Taoiseach Micheál Martin, speaking on RTÉ's Today with David McCullagh, said gardaí and the Defence Forces were investigating the threats which have been made to RTÉ, Newstalk and other organisations, though it remained too early to say if the threats come from an individual or have been coordinated. Mr Martin added that he would prefer to get a more comprehensive security briefing
later today.
Tánaiste Simon Harris described the situation as very serious
and evolving in real time
during an interview with the Opinion Line on Cork's 96FM. There is a very serious and evolving situation this morning and obviously this comes on the back of a number of bomb scares yesterday and in recent days in relation to airlines as well,
Mr Harris said. It is fair to say 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.
Political figures voiced strong support for journalism workers caught in the sweep. Social Democrats media spokesperson Sinéad Gibney condemned the threats directly:
These threats against our media deserve the strongest possible condemnation. In a time where more and more journalists globally are facing violence and intimidation, I send my support to those affected by what is currently happening across media offices in Dublin, including RTÉ, Newstalk and the Irish Independent, where staff have been evacuated. While the nature of the threat is unclear, the safety of those working in these organisations must be paramount. We must resist attempts to silence and threaten our media wherever they arise.
Sinéad Gibney, Social Democrats media spokesperson
What is the connection to recent aviation bomb scares?
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.
Government leaders have sought to project calm regarding upcoming international gatherings despite the sudden escalation in security incidents. Mr Martin stated that the Government is confident that it has measures in place ahead of next week's EU meetings of leaders in Dublin to deal with such threats.
What should affected staff and readers look out for next?
Authorities have not yet confirmed the discovery of any explosive devices at the Donnybrook campus or other targeted media offices, and searches remain ongoing. Staff members at evacuated offices have been instructed to await further security clearances before returning to their physical desks. Taoiseach Micheál Martin is scheduled to receive a comprehensive security briefing from defense and police experts later on Friday.
