RTÉ evacuates Dublin headquarters after bomb threat email, programmes move to pre-recorded

Evacuation at the Donnybrook campus

Staff at RTÉ, the Republic of Ireland's public service broadcaster, were evacuated from the buildings on its Donnybrook campus in Dublin on Friday, 6 November, after a bomb threat. The alarm followed an email that reached the broadcaster that morning. Presenters, staff and other personnel left the premises while gardaí (Irish police) attended the scene and searched the buildings. RTÉ said it had moved to pre-recorded programmes as a precaution and that the safety of its staff and everyone else on the site was its top concern. Normal services are to resume as soon as possible, after consultation with gardaí.

Other newsrooms and on-air disruption

RTÉ said the same email had been sent to scores of other media outlets in Ireland and Britain, while 20 Minuten reported dozens. The Irish Independent said on its website that it had also received the email and evacuated its staff. On RTÉ Radio One, output dropped out mid-air during Morning Ireland, and the scheduled programme Today with David McCullagh, due to start at 9am, was replaced by music and a pre-recorded message. Morning Ireland presenter Sarah McInerney wrote in an Instagram story that she was among those evacuated. TheJournal.ie reported that a journalist due on air was told staff were outside and could not go on air, and that crews were setting up radio equipment in the canteen to try to get back on air.

Hoax assessment and police response

The Irish Times reported that the threat is believed to be a hoax, although the entire building was evacuated as a precaution. TheJournal.ie said the message claimed to come from the same group behind the threats to planes across Europe in the week of 2 November 2026, a claim it attributed to what it understood. In a statement, gardaí said they were aware of a threat against media organisations in Ireland and Europe, were in contact with Irish media organisations, and were investigating the threats. The Telegraaf reported that no explosive had been found so far.

Wider wave of threats

Warnings had already been reported earlier in the week of 2 November 2026. On Thursday, 5 November, at least 27 flights in Europe were affected by false alarms, including services run by Aer Lingus and Ryanair, according to 20 Minuten. 7sur7 reported that dozens of false bomb alerts on aircraft had disrupted European air traffic in the days before 6 November, with fighter jets scrambled several times to escort civilian planes. The Telegraaf linked the Dublin evacuation to a series of bomb threats on aircraft across Europe.