Ireland mounts its biggest security operation for European summits

Ireland is mounting the largest security operation in its history as around 50 European leaders gather in Dublin this week amid growing concerns over hybrid attacks.

The operation follows a wave of hoax bomb threats targeting airlines and media organisations across Europe, with Irish police reporting new incidents on Monday and Tuesday.

“It is the biggest international political gathering in the country’s history and comes at a time of geopolitical uncertainty and increased threats against democratic nations,” Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly told reporters in Dublin on Tuesday.

Police have organised “the largest and most extensive policing and security operation in the history of the state to keep people safe,” he added.

Ireland currently holds the rotating presidency of the 27-member bloc, and the European Political Community (EPC) summit takes place Thursday, followed by an informal meeting of European Union leaders on Friday.

The convention centre venue on the River Liffey in central Dublin has been sealed off with security fencing, while manhole covers have been checked, rubbish bins sealed and traffic restrictions imposed.

Police will carry out more than 15,000 12-hour shifts during the operation, with over 500 armed tactical officers deployed and more than 500 public-order police on duty each day, according to police figures.

Ireland, a militarily neutral EU member outside Nato with a population of five million, has faced growing scrutiny of its limited military capabilities amid heightened European security concerns.

During Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to Dublin last December, unidentified drones were spotted near the capital as his aircraft arrived, prompting a police investigation.

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said in a post on X on Monday that she was looking “forward to meeting” Zelensky “in Dublin later this week” to discuss the “next steps towards peace”.

Kelly said specialist police units would this week be supported by the military and the National Cyber Security Centre, with additional assistance from police in Latvia, Portugal and Northern Ireland.

The operation will also involve specialist drone and counter-drone capabilities, as well as explosives detection dogs.

Kelly said police were investigating fresh bomb threats received on Monday and Tuesday, following last week’s widespread disruption.

An emailed bomb threat targeted a Ryanair flight en route from Dublin to Sofia, which continued to its destination without incident, a police statement said.

On Monday threats – later confirmed to be hoaxes – were made against two Irish schools, it added.

Kelly also pointed to increased hybrid activity since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but said investigators had not established who was behind the recent threats.

“The point of individuals or entities behind these is to sow discord, is to try and try to destabilise our democracies,” he said.

Last Friday, bomb threats forced evacuations at several Irish media organisations, including national broadcaster RTE, amid a wider wave of similar threats to flights across Europe.

Some aircraft were diverted or escorted by fighter jets, but no explosives were discovered.

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