An explosive device discovered in Dublin’s south inner city has been made safe after it was found to be viable. The incident on Merrion Square, Dublin 2, was the most serious security threat to Ireland’s staging of significant EU presidency events in the city this week.
As the informal meeting of the European Council was continuing on Friday afternoon at the Convention Centre, Dublin 1, involving EU heads of state, the suspicious device was located, prompting a major security operation.
It was found at a building beside the National Gallery of Ireland, where Taoiseach Micheál Martin had hosted a dinner for European heads of state, and other international leaders, on Thursday night. However, gardaí stressed whoever was responsible did not target the gallery.
On examination, the device was found to be comprised of components from fireworks, along with an accelerant. The two items were in a bottle.
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Garda sources said that, while the discovery of any such device in the city would always be treated as a serious concern, the degree of urgency around the incident at Merrion Square was heightened because of the EU summit taking place across the river Liffey.
A security cordon was established, with gardaí securing the area and requesting assistance from Defence Forces specialists. In an operation that continued for hours, the device was eventually made safe and the area reopened.
Garda Headquarters said it responded to a report that a suspicious device had been discovered just after 2.20pm at an office building on Merrion Square.
“Based on initial Garda assessment, the Defence Forces explosive ordnance disposal team were requested to attend the scene,” the Garda said in a statement. “The EOD team has made what is a crude but viable device safe. A Garda investigation into this device has commenced.”
Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan praised An Garda Síochána for the effectiveness of its security operation this week, saying it demonstrated Ireland’s ability to host globally significant summits in a complex security environment.
“The scale, complexity and logistical challenges involved were significant, requiring extensive planning, co-ordination and co-operation across multiple national and international partners. The successful delivery of this operation is a testament to the professionalism and expertise of all those involved,” he said.
O’Callaghan added frontline garda, gardaí had not only staged a successful operation but had continued regular policing at the same time. He had spoken to Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly to thank him and his senior management team.
Friday’s incident followed two hoaxes in Dublin city on Thursday. One involved a hoax device, comprised of a box and some pipes, discovered in the toilets at Connolly Station in the north inner city. The other was a bomb threat made against a business in the city. Both incidents were quickly assessed and deemed not to be credible.
At that time, up to 50 heads of state and international leaders were attending the European Political Community (EPC) meeting, also at the Convention Centre. The meetings on Thursday and Friday were part of Ireland’s six-month presidency of the EU and were the biggest set piece events of the leadership period.
The Garda force, backed by the Defence Forces and European partners, put in place the largest security operation in the history of the State amid fears of hybrid warfare attacks or serious disorder on the streets.
Security tensions around the two summits were increased last week, and earlier this week, when airlines and media organisations in Europe were targeted with a series of bomb threats.
Hundreds of schools in Ireland, both in the Republic and the North, were also targeted with bomb threats on Wednesday morning, just hours before some world leaders began arriving for the summits in Dublin.
