Europe bomb threats 'likely co-ordinated campaign': Irish government

People gather outside the offices of Irish National broadcaster RTE after staff were evacuated from the site following a bomb threat that the broadcaster has claimed is from the same group that has been behind a wave of bomb threats issued to passenger flights around Europe this week, in Donnybrook, Dublin, Ireland, November 6, 2026. | Photo Credit: Reuters Ireland's government said on Friday (November 6, 2026) that hoax bomb claims sent to Irish media outlets amid a spate of threats against Europe-wide flights were "likely" part of a "co-ordinated campaign of disruption".The hoaxes in Dublin came as more European flights were also hit on Friday (November 6, 2026) by bomb threats, the latest this week forcing authorities to reroute some planes or escort civilian aircraft with fighter jets.The Irish government confirmed police responded after national broadcaster RTE, Virgin Media, Newstalk radio, and The Irish Independent newspaper all received what turned out to be hoax bomb claims."It is not known yet who is responsible for these threats, whether it is individuals or a centralised or co-ordinated effort," it said in a statement."However, these threats come on the heels of the ongoing disruption to aviation around Europe caused by similar threats, and it seems likely that this is a co-ordinated campaign of disruption."It added that "the threats made this morning against media organisations here are very serious"."Hoax threats such as these cause fear, distress and disruption to people going about their daily lives and activities; they achieve no positive purpose whatsoever," the statement said.It noted police were working alongside Ireland's military, cyber, and aviation authorities, as well as European counterparts, to find the culprits."Every effort will be made to identify those responsible and to hold them to account," the government vowed.Police were promptly deployed to RTE's Dublin headquarters and the other targeted sites following the threats, the outlets reported.Newstalk radio host Claire Byrne said after returning to air that staff there had been advised to leave their building following "a message that we received"."We've been advised that we could return to the building and that that warning was a hoax," she added.Numerous commercial flights have been targeted across Europe this week, forcing some aircraft to make unscheduled landings and prompting fighter planes to be deployed.No responsibility has been established for the threats, which come ahead of two days of high-profile European Union meetings in Dublin next week. Published - November 06, 2026 07:55 pm IST