Irish police report more hoax bomb threats before largest-ever EU summit security operation

Hoax threats keep arriving

Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly told a security briefing in Dublin on Tuesday, 10 November, that more hoax bomb threats had been made on Monday, 9 November, and again that morning. Kelly said some of the recent threats are still live, so he declined to give further details about them. The Irish Independent understands that one of Tuesday's threats was an emailed warning aimed at a Ryanair flight from Dublin to Sofia in Bulgaria, and the aircraft carried on to its destination without incident. Ryanair was contacted for comment. A second threat, which targeted a school in the south of the country on Monday and involved a vulnerable teenager, was not judged credible.

Origin and earlier threats

Kelly said the early assessment is that the threats came from outside Ireland, and gardaí are working with Europol and international security partners to establish who is responsible. Several Irish media outlets received hoax threats last week, days after airlines, supermarkets and schools were also targeted by bomb alerts. Those threats to airlines and media companies were not aimed specifically at Ireland but spanned Europe. Kelly said the people behind the hoaxes want to sow discord and destabilise democracies. He put the earlier emailed threats bluntly:

“These hoaxes last week, there was no credibility to any of them.”

Largest-ever security operation

Over 50 world leaders are due in Dublin for the European Political Community summit on Thursday, 12 November, followed by an informal EU Council meeting on Friday, 13 November. The Irish Independent reports that over 5,000 gardaí will be on duty on Thursday, while TheJournal says gardaí will work more than 15,000 twelve-hour tours of duty between Tuesday and Friday. Evening Standard reports that 100 specially trained motorcycle escort officers will carry out at least 200 VIP movements, including heads of state. Gardaí will erect heavy goods vehicle barriers, and counter-drone specialists from Latvia and Portugal are supporting the operation alongside the Police Service of Northern Ireland. Airspace restrictions are in place, and the most advanced counter-drone systems are being deployed to detect and track unauthorised drones.

Traffic disruption and protest warnings

Gardaí expect traffic disruption across Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, as 50 heads of state and government are escorted around the city at different times. An Garda Síochána says four days of road closures and transport disruption are starting, and residents in affected areas should plan their day and allow extra time for journeys. Assistant Garda Commissioner Jonathan Roberts is in charge of policing in Dublin. Fuel protests are planned for Friday, and Kelly set out the force's position on them:

“There will be absolutely no toleration for any blockage”

The warning covers motorways, critical infrastructure and key locations. Senior officers said they will facilitate peaceful protests and expect a number of demonstrations this week.