An explosive device discovered in Dublin’s south inner city on Friday afternoon was made safe by army bomb disposal experts following a major security operation, The Irish Times reported.
The incident on Merrion Square unfolded as EU heads of state attended an informal meeting of the European Council at the Convention Centre across the River Liffey. The device was the most serious security threat to Ireland’s staging of European Union presidency events in the city this week.
Gardaí said that the suspicious object was located at an office building beside the National Gallery of Ireland on the north side of the square. Taoiseach Micheál Martin had hosted a dinner for European leaders at the gallery on Thursday night, though investigators stressed that the venue was not targeted.
“The EOD team has made what is a crude but viable device safe,” a Garda spokeswoman told The Journal.
Defence Forces Deploy Robot at Merrion Square
The alarm was raised shortly after 2.20pm on Friday, November 13, prompting gardaí to establish a security cordon and evacuate nearby buildings. Defence Forces specialists were requested to assist at the scene.
The explosive ordnance disposal team deployed remotely operated vehicles and a bomb disposal robot to examine the object. Army experts determined that the item was constructed from components taken from fireworks alongside an accelerant packed inside a bottle.
The Defence Forces confirmed the assessment in a statement reported by the Irish Examiner. Once the device was rendered safe, the scene was handed back to An Garda Síochána to begin a formal criminal investigation.
Security Operations During European Summits
Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan praised An Garda Síochána for managing the complex security environment. Up to 50 heads of state and international leaders attended the European Political Community meeting in the capital.
“The scale, complexity and logistical challenges involved were significant, requiring extensive planning, co-ordination and co-operation across multiple national and international partners,” Mr. O’Callaghan said.
Dublin Live noted that Friday’s security alert followed two separate hoax incidents in the city on Thursday. One involved a box and pipes discovered in the toilets at Connolly Station, while the other was a bomb threat directed at a local business.
Broad Threats Target Transport and Schools
The Limerick Leader confirmed that the Garda investigation into the Merrion Square device remains ongoing.
