Hoax bomb threats hit Dublin media days before 50 leaders meet

Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan said the threats to Irish media organisations – including RTÉ, Bauer Media, Virgin Media and Mediahuis – were being taken "extremely seriously" and were under investigation. Gardaí said they were aware of a threat made against media organisations here and in Europe and were liaising with those affected.

Senior garda sources described the email as crude and generic. They said the same email was sent to at least 50-60 media outlets across Europe, claiming bombs had been placed at all of their offices, with no specific threat to Irish media organisations.

Minister for Defence Helen McEntee said the involvement of Russia in the threats against Irish media organisations cannot be ruled out, but said attribution was not yet possible. She said: "I don’t think anybody can rule that [Russia] out at this moment in time, but what our authorities are trying to understand – from our aviation authorities – as well across the EU is whether all of this is interconnected and linked, and then where is it coming directly from?"

Ireland is preparing to host a meeting of the European Political Community next Thursday 12 November, which will see around 50 leaders gather in Dublin, followed on Friday 13 November by an informal meeting of EU Heads of State or Government. Both meetings will take place in the Convention Centre on Dublin's North Wall Quay, with a leaders' dinner in the National Gallery of Ireland.

An extensive policing and security operation will come into effect on Tuesday 10 November, involving front-line policing, public order, the Special Detective Unit, Emergency Response Unit, Air Support and the National Drone Unit. The Taoiseach said: "I would say it's the largest ever security operation in the history of the State. It would be larger than the visit of a US president, for example."

Preparations have been complicated by a Garda work-to-rule. Talks between Garda management and the Garda Representative Association, which represents more than 11,000 rank-and-file gardaí, failed to resolve a dispute over allowances and conditions. An Garda Síochána has had to hire coaches, at a cost of at least €2 million, to bring gardaí to the capital, because members drafted to Dublin and Shannon are refusing to travel independently. The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors said it would work to the managerial plans for next week, citing its responsibilities and the disturbing incidents involving media and airlines.

The summits are the centrepiece of Ireland's six-month presidency of the Council of the European Union, planned over months by Government departments, the Office of Public Works, An Garda Síochána, Dublin City Council and transport operators. There has been increased attention on so-called hybrid threats, including bomb scares, in the run-up to major events in the coming days as part of that presidency.

Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said hospitals and schools had been targeted in hybrid attacks in other countries, pointing to the experience of partners including Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. She said: "Every part of our society has to take stock in relation to the threats that exist right across Europe."

Minister for Education Hildegarde Naughton said schools had been proactive and that she had engaged with the Minister for Justice on safeguards. She said: "We need to really reassure people that there is a huge amount of work happening around our security within the State."

Céim a bhfuil súil léi: D’fhéadfadh an méid seo athrú.

Many bus routes in central Dublin and some Luas Red Line services will experience significant disruption from Tuesday 10th to Friday 13th November because of the Garda security cordon. North Wall Quay between Samuel Beckett Bridge and Spencer Place closes from 07:00 on 10 November until 18:00 on 13 November, with an extended cordon and a National Gallery zone on 12 November.

On Thursday and Friday, Red Line trams will operate between Tallaght/Saggart and Connolly only. There will be no tram service between Connolly and The Point, affecting access to Niall Horan concerts at the 3Arena, with passengers advised to use the designated walking route between Connolly and the venue.

Customers are advised to plan their journeys in advance and allow additional travel time from Tuesday 10 November to Friday 13 November, as Dublin hosts two major international summits during Ireland's EU Presidency. Passengers should use the TFI Journey Planner and Live app, check operator websites and follow directions from gardaí and transport staff.