Sky and RTÉ Evacuated After Bomb Threats
Hours after Irish media offices cleared buildings, the British broadcaster confirmed a similar security alert.
By Neha Kapoor ·
Sky News confirmed on Friday that it received a security threat, following a similar alert that forced Irish broadcaster RTÉ to evacuate its Dublin headquarters earlier in the day. The incidents occur during a week of widespread bomb threats across European airports. A Sky News presenter read a statement from the Comcast-owned broadcaster, noting that Sky was one of several media organizations targeted. The statement said the company completed a security assessment and reported the matter to authorities. It added that staff safety is the priority and that the broadcaster is working with officials to secure its operations.
In Ireland, RTÉ Radio received an email shortly before 0900 GMT claiming a bomb would detonate within 45 minutes. The alert was deemed a hoax. RTÉ Radio One resumed mid-morning programming from an outside unit after a break of more than one hour. A presenter noted the email appeared to come from the same group responsible for recent airport disruptions. Meanwhile, Newstalk Radio also evacuated its central Dublin offices. Presenter Claire Byrne announced on air that staff could return to the building at 1000 GMT. The Irish Independent newspaper group reported that its capital offices were also evacuated.
Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin addressed the incident in a telephone interview with RTÉ. He described the events as worrying and said the government is taking the threat seriously. Martin stated that simple actions can disrupt society and cause fear. He urged the public to remain calm and focused. He noted that the unconventional nature of the threats is designed to undermine normal operations. Police continued to check the RTÉ campus in south Dublin building by building, keeping the site closed during the search.
An RTÉ reporter read excerpts from the threat email on air. The text claimed the senders were the same individuals behind the wave of threats that disrupted dozens of passenger flights across Europe on Thursday. The excerpts did not name the group. Sky has not clarified whether its specific threat is linked to the airport incidents. The Irish broadcaster’s programming returned to normal after the evacuation, while Sky continued operations following its security assessment.
