Media Organisations Evacuated Following Emailed Bomb Threats
RTÉ, Newstalk and Irish Independent staff evacuated after emailed bomb threats. No verified reports of a Cork newsroom evacuation as of this morning.
Staff at RTÉ, Newstalk, Today FM and the Irish Independent were evacuated from premises in Dublin on Friday morning, 6 November, following emailed bomb threats. Gardaí confirmed they were investigating threats against media organisations in Ireland and Europe. Newstalk subsequently resumed broadcasting after staff were permitted to return, while RTÉ Radio 1 returned from a mobile studio as checks continued at its Donnybrook campus. No connection with this week’s airline threats has been confirmed.
Staff and presenters left buildings at RTÉ’s Montrose campus in Donnybrook, Dublin, following an emailed bomb threat received shortly before 09:00. Gardaí attended the campus, with armed officers also reported at the scene.
Marconi House, which houses Newstalk, Today FM, Spin 1038 and 98FM, was also evacuated. Staff at Mediahuis, publisher of the Irish Independent, evacuated their Dublin premises.
RTÉ’s Today with David McCullagh, scheduled for 09:00, was initially replaced by recorded music. The Guardian reports that Radio 1 returned at 10:13, while The Journal confirmed the programme was operating from the 2FM Roadcaster mobile studio.
Newstalk returned around 10:00 after staff were permitted back into Marconi House. Presenter Claire Byrne told Newstalk listeners they had been advised that the warning was a hoax.
At RTÉ, searches were continuing. A Reuters report at 10:42 said the campus remained closed while gardaí checked buildings individually. No subsequent confirmed all-clear for RTÉ had been found at the time of writing.
Cork’s 96FM/C103 reports that Virgin Media also received the email. Reports about whether Virgin Media’s premises were evacuated have conflicted, and this has not been confirmed.
Gardaí said they were aware of a threat against media organisations in Ireland and Europe and were liaising with affected Irish organisations.
An Garda Síochána spokesperson:
An Garda Síochána has been liaising with the Irish media organisations and the threats will be investigated.”
Taoiseach Micheál Martin described the situation as worrying, said the threats were being taken seriously and urged people to remain calm.
Speaking to The Opinion Line on Cork’s 96FM, Tánaiste Simon Harris said investigators had not established who was responsible or whether the incidents were coordinated.
Simon Harris, Tánaiste:
“We don’t yet know who is responsible for what’s happening this morning.”
The incidents follow bomb threats involving European flights this week. Authorities have not confirmed a link between those incidents and this morning’s threats against media organisations.
On Thursday, 5 November, Cork Airport received an anonymous telephone threat concerning a particular flight. Nothing of concern was found, and the service resumed after a 90-minute delay.
No verified report of a Cork newsroom evacuation was found in the sources checked. The identity of the sender, any connection between the incidents and an overall all-clear remain unconfirmed.
