Russian Embassy dismisses claims of link to bomb threats targeting Irish media and airlines
Gardaí surround RTÉ studios in Dublin after the national broadcaster received a bomb threat and staff were evacuated. Picture: Sam Boal/Collins Photos
The Russian Embassy in Dublin has dismissed speculation about an alleged Russian connection to the recent wave of bomb threats targeting airlines and media organisations, as gardaí continue their investigation into threats made against Irish media outlets.
The threats, which prompted the evacuation of RTÉ’s Dublin headquarters on Friday, were among a series of incidents targeting airlines and media organisations across Europe in recent days.
The Government has said authorities are working to identify those responsible.
The embassy’s response follows speculation about a possible Russian connection to the incidents.
In a statement, the embassy said it knew “as much as you do” about the incidents, adding that Ambassador Yuriy Filatov had no comment.
A spokesperson said: “Any speculation over alleged Russian connection in these issues is completely out of place and totally unfounded.”
Other media organisations in Ireland also received “very serious” threats on Friday morning, the Government said, adding that authorities were working to identify those responsible.
The incidents followed a series of bomb threats against airlines across Europe in recent days, including threats targeting flights from Dublin.
Gardaí were called to RTÉ’s Donnybrook campus, where sniffer dogs carried out searches. The site has since been declared safe.
The emailed threats to media outlets came ahead of a week in which Ireland will host two major European political summits as part of its six-month presidency of the EU Council.
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RTÉ Radio 1 went off air at around 9am on Friday, replacing its programme with pre-recorded music.
The programme returned later in the morning, with McCullagh presenting from a mobile broadcasting truck as gardaí continued to search the RTÉ buildings.
Staff, including radio and television presenters at the Montrose campus, were told to leave the studio buildings after the email was received.
Children attending a creche on the site were also evacuated.
RTÉ director-general Kevin Bakhurst joined staff outside the station’s mobile broadcast vehicle as they awaited updates on the search.
“On the basis of the information we had, we decided that we wanted to put the safety of the staff first and evacuate the buildings,” he said.
“It’s a disgraceful attack on the media, on free media, and unfortunately, probably where it comes from, they don’t really appreciate the importance of free media.”
McCullagh told listeners the threat warned that a bomb would explode within 45 minutes.
Threats were also sent to Virgin Media, Newstalk and the .
RTÉ presenter Sarah McInerney said the sender of the email claimed to have been part of a group responsible for other recent threats against airlines. The sender also claimed that an operative had planted an explosive device in the building.
Gardaí, including members of the armed response unit and sniffer dog handlers, attended the site.
Justice minister Jim O’Callaghan said the threats were being taken “very seriously” and were being investigated by gardaí.
“Europe has increasingly become the target of different forms of hybrid attacks, which are evolving in complexity and sophistication,” he said in a statement.
“To counter these threats, it is important to strengthen our co-operation and co-ordination.
“Threats of this nature are completely unacceptable and every effort will be made to identify those responsible.”
Taoiseach Micheál Martin told RTÉ : “It is worrying and we take the threat seriously. Obviously, because the safety of the Irish public is our first priority, and indeed across Europe.
“Yesterday, there appeared to be co-ordinated efforts to disrupt air travel and so forth.
“The gardaí, the Defence Forces, cyber and aviation authorities are working to establish who’s behind this, as are their European counterparts.
“It’s not determined yet whether it’s individuals or a co-ordinated attack.
“However, we will go after this to identify who’s responsible and to hold them accountable.”
Mr Martin said there would be a “very significant security operation” in place for the European Political Community meeting next Thursday and the informal meeting of EU heads of state on Friday.
“We’ve been alive to this risk since before our presidency and our agencies have worked extremely hard on this, and we have had meetings even in the last week in preparation for next week,” he said.
“It does highlight, and I would say this to all of our main representative bodies in society, the security stakes are much higher in this period of time than they have been for a long time in Europe.”
He added: “We have the largest number of prime ministers ever at the one time in our country (for the EU Council events) and that does call for a very significant security operation.
“The gardaí are to be commended on the extraordinary preparation that they’ve put into this, as have our Defence Forces, and both are working very closely together and working with like-minded agencies across Europe, so we’re confident in terms of our capacities and in terms of the preparation we’ve put into this.”
A Garda work-to-rule action for the duration of the events has been directed by a representative organisation for rank-and-file members, while public sector workers are planning a nationwide strike on Thursday.
Commenting on Friday’s emailed threats, Mr Martin added: “It just illustrates how relatively simple it can be to cause disruption and to undermine the normal operation of society through unconventional activities of this kind, which are designed to cause disruption, designed to cause fear and anxiety. So we have to remain calm and very focused on this.”
Tánaiste Simon Harris said the Government was “alive” to the risks associated with the threats received by Irish media organisations on Friday.
“There’s 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,” he told Cork 96FM.
“So this is evolving in real time. I think it’s fair to say we don’t yet know who is responsible for what’s happening this morning. We don’t yet know whether it’s an individual behind this effort or some form of a co-ordinated effort.
“But what I do want to assure the people of this country is that this is an issue being taken very seriously by the gardaí, by our security forces and our cyber experts.
“They’re working now on this issue and of course they’ll be liaising as appropriate with European counterparts as well.
“The priority is that people are safe, but we need to work to identify the culprits as well.
“I want people to know that we’re alive to these risks.”
Presenter Sarah McInerney said there was a sense of “inevitability” surrounding the threat.
She told reporters at the site: “We’ve seen what’s been happening this week, and when you stop and think about it, surely it was only a matter of time.
“It’s more concern about how do we prevent stuff like this happening again because it’s been so disruptive. We’re doing our best to stay on air. I think the teams everywhere are doing a really good job, but we are so dependent on technology.
“It looks that it was a hoax, and it’ll all be fine. But it’s how do we make ourselves proofed for this in the future?
“That is going to be the next really big question, that we need to address really, really quickly because we can’t be at the behest of people who want to send out an email and cause disruption like this to everybody’s lives. That’s not OK.
“When you’re not prepared for something like this, it’s very hard to keep the show on the road, quite literally.”
Seamus Dooley, secretary of the National Union of Journalists in Ireland, described the threat as a “deeply disturbing” attack on press freedom.
A Garda spokesperson said: “An Garda Síochána is aware of a threat made against media organisations here and in Europe.
“An Garda Síochána has been liaising with the Irish media organisations and the threats will be investigated.”
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