Bomb Threats Hit Irish Media Outlets and More European Flights
Newsrooms of leading Irish media in Dublin received identical emails on Friday claiming bombs had been planted, and three were evacuated. Ireland's government believes it is part of a Europe-wide campaign of disruption ahead of next week's European Political Community summit.
Several of Ireland's leading media organizations in Dublin received identically worded emails on Friday morning claiming bombs had been left in their offices. The targets were national broadcaster RTÉ, Virgin Media TV, the Irish Independent newspaper and Newstalk radio. A government official told POLITICO the threats are almost certainly linked to the European Political Community (EPC) summit due to be held in Dublin next week. Police found no suspicious devices.
Three of the newsrooms were evacuated, disrupting RTÉ and Newstalk programs, while Virgin Media staff kept broadcasting.
A wider wave of threats
The Irish government said the threats to the media were probably part of a Europe-wide pattern: this week dozens of airlines were targeted, including Irish carriers Ryanair and Aer Lingus. Hackers also attacked supermarket refrigeration systems in at least seven European countries. A government statement said it is not yet known who is responsible, but a coordinated campaign of disruption seems likely.
On Friday, bomb threats hit at least 18 European flights, after at least 22 the day before. Hungary scrambled fighter jets over threats involving three civilian passenger aircraft. Prague Airport reported nine flights targeted, France reported four threats against aircraft over its territory, and Bulgaria said two flights bound for Sofia were threatened.
Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said it could be hybrid aggression and that it cannot be a coincidence that so many identical events occur across Europe. Luis Gallego, CEO of airline group IAG, said the perpetrators appear to want to create chaos at airports.
The Dublin summit
The EPC, created in 2022 after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, brings together leaders of 47 countries and representatives of several bodies, including NATO, to discuss strategic issues. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will also attend the Dublin meeting. The Irish official declined to name Russia as the likely culprit but noted that EU partners, including Denmark, which faced similar attacks before hosting the EPC in 2025, had drawn such links. Irish police Superintendent Liam Geraghty said Ireland has never seen a policing and security operation of this scale.
