Gardaí investigating three bomb threats targeting Government buildings

Staff are being moved from Kildare Street, Earlsfort Terrace and Dawson Street offices.

It is understood that staff have been told to work from home. Picture: Dan Linehan

Garda anti-terrorism officers are conducting an investigation after at least three bomb threats were made targeting Government Buildings and two departments.

Two of the threats – which were made at lunchtime on Friday – have already been declared a hoax while searches and checks are continuing on a third.

Officers expect the third incident to be also a hoax.

The properties affected are understood to be Government Buildings, the Department of Justice and the Department of Enterprise, as well as the Workplace Relations Commission.

It is understood that some of the calls making the threats were made directly into departments and another was sent into Garda Control, which deals with 999 calls.

Staff were moved from Kildare Street, Earlsfort Terrace and Dawson Street offices and were told to work from home.

It is not known if one or more people were involved in making the calls.

Searches were conducted by department staff and department security in all public areas of the buildings concerned, including entry points, receptions, public hallways and toilets.

They were supervised in the searches by local gardaí.

Efforts are underway to try and trace the phone calls in which the threats were made.

The Special Detective Unit, which is part of the Garda National Crime & Security Intelligence Service, is conducting inquiries.

A statement from gardaí said they are "aware of a number of security alerts at Government buildings this afternoon.

"Following further enquiries An Garda Síochána is satisfied that all of the alerts have been deemed as hoax and the areas have been declared safe."