Ireland launches largest-ever security operation in Dublin
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on France 24 and Webdo
Ireland is deploying its largest security operation as around 50 European leaders gather in Dublin. The operation comes amid a rise in hoax bomb threats targeting schools, airlines and media organisations, with new incidents reported in Ireland, according to France 24.
Ireland is strengthening its security operation in Dublin as around 50 European leaders are due to gather there this week, amid growing concerns over hybrid attacks, according to France 24. Irish police reported new incidents on Monday and Tuesday.
Schools in the Republic of Ireland received emails claiming that explosive devices were present, but the Gardaí deemed the threats not credible and did not recommend any evacuations. Similar messages were reported at schools in Scotland and Northern Ireland, where authorities also assessed the risk as low.
In Italy, at least 300 schools were evacuated on Wednesday 11 November following similar emails, according to Italian Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara. Checks were carried out notably in Rome, Milan, Naples, Palermo and Bologna, while Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni convened a meeting with several ministers and said that no concrete danger had been identified.
Italian and British authorities are investigating the origin of the messages and possible links between the different alerts. The name “Mikhail Andropov”, presented as the leader of a self-proclaimed group, is among the elements associated with the emails and was also reportedly used in recent threats targeting newsrooms in Ireland and Bulgaria.
