‘Crude but viable’ bomb defused near Dublin venue where world leaders dined during European summit

Jerusalem Post/World NewsPolice did not say when they believe the device was planted in the Merrion Square office building, and an investigation is under way.Follow us on GoogleAn image of the Convention Centre Dublin is displayed during the European Political Community summit in Dublin, Ireland, November 12, 2026. (photo credit: REUTERS/Natalia Campos)NOVEMBER 14, 2026 13:29Irish army bomb experts made a crude but viable explosive device safe at an office building in central Dublin on Friday, close to where world leaders dined a day earlier during a two-day summit in the Irish capital.Irish police said they responded to a report of a suspicious device on Friday afternoon in the building on Merrion Square. Leaders from the European Political Community that includes EU and non-EU countries had met for dinner at a venue on another side of the square on Thursday."Based on initial Garda (police) assessment the defense forces Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team were requested to attend the scene. The EOD team has made what is a crude but viable device safe," police said in a statement.An investigation is under way, the statement added. It did not say when police believe the bomb was planted or give other details about it.French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney — a guest at the event — attended the dinner at the National Gallery of Ireland.President of France Emmanuel Macron looks on during the Ukraine security meeting at the European Political Community (EPC) summit at the Convention Centre Dublin, in Dublin, Ireland, November 12, 2026. (credit: STEFAN ROUSSEAU/POOL VIA REUTERS)A security cordon was placed around the venue for the dinner, with roads within the vicinity of Merrion Square closed off. Police said the two-day gathering was the largest security operation they had ever undertaken.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was also at the summit but did not attend the dinner as he was meeting US presidential envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff on the outskirts of Dublin.The summit, which continued on Friday with an informal meeting of EU leaders, was held at a separate venue 1.5 kilometers away from where the device was discovered.Follow us on Google