Multiple media organisations across Ireland and Britain were evacuated on Friday morning after receiving an email containing a bomb threat, including Ireland's national public broadcaster, RTE.
Following the receipt of the threatening message, Irish police responded to RTE's Donnybrook campus in Dublin. Presenters and staff were evacuated from the site while officers carried out searches across the buildings with the assistance of sniffer dogs.
As a safety precaution during the operation, RTE adjusted its broadcasts by switching to pre-recorded programming. Meanwhile, Radio 1's Today programme managed to continue broadcasting live by utilizing the organisation's outside broadcasting vehicle.
In an official statement, RTE affirmed that the safety of its staff and personnel remains its top priority. The public broadcaster added that normal broadcasting services would resume as quickly as possible following detailed consultations with police authorities.
The threat against Irish and British media outlets comes amid an escalating series of security disruptions reported across Europe. On Thursday, hoax bomb threats impacted nearly 30 passenger flights, forcing several aircraft to make unplanned emergency landings while military fighter jets were scrambled to escort or intercept others. Flights originating from or connected to Dublin, London, Madrid, Copenhagen, Warsaw, Milan, and Helsinki were among those affected.
In a separate wave of disruptions, suspected cyberattacks targeting supermarket cooling systems disrupted operations for retailers across several European nations. In Sweden, store chains ICA and Coop reported compromised refrigeration systems on November 2 that caused freezer and fridge temperatures to spike, forcing management to discard food. Supermarket cooling disruptions were also reported in Belgium, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Estonia, Finland, Italy, and Portugal.
Authorities have not identified who is behind the emailed threats or cyber incidents, and no group has claimed responsibility. Officials have also not confirmed whether any direct link exists between the media bomb threats, aviation hoaxes, and retail cyberattacks.
