Friday 6 November 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 33051Bomb threat · Co. Dublin · 6 Nov 2026

Gardaí investigating bomb threat at RTÉ and media offices in Dublin

An email bomb threat was sent to RTÉ and scores of other media outlets in Ireland and Britain on Friday morning, 6 November 2026, claiming an operative had planted an explosive device and giving staff 45 minutes to evacuate before detonation. RTÉ studios in Donnybrook, Dublin 4, Mediahuis offices on Talbot Street, and Newstalk at Marconi House were all cleared, with RTÉ moving to pre-recorded programmes. The email was signed by a person calling himself Mikhail Andropov and linked the threat to recent airline bomb threats across Europe, arriving ahead of two major European political summits hosted by Ireland during its EU Council presidency. Gardaí are investigating the incident and believe the threat is a hoax.

  1. Reported6 Nov
    3 reports
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Staff were evacuated from RTÉ studios and other media offices in Ireland and Britain following an email bomb threat.
  • The email claimed an operative had planted an explosive device and gave staff 45 minutes to evacuate before detonation.
  • The email was signed by a person calling himself Mikhail Andropov, described as a leader of the group responsible for recent airline bomb threats in Europe.
  • The threats arrived ahead of two major European political summits hosted by Ireland during its six-month EU Council presidency.
Where
The incident occurred at RTÉ studios in Donnybrook, Dublin 4, with Mediahuis offices on Talbot Street and Newstalk at Marconi House also evacuated.
When
The threat was received by email on Friday morning, 6 November 2026.
Investigation
  • Gardaí are investigating the incident and believe the threat is a hoax.
  • Sniffer dogs were deployed at the RTÉ Montrose campus as part of the search.
  • Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan confirmed the threats are the subject of an active investigation by An Garda Síochána.
Other details
  • The Government stated the threats seem likely to be a co-ordinated campaign of disruption.
  • The incidents followed bomb threats sent to airlines across Europe in recent days, including one targeting flights from Dublin.
  • The email was also sent to UK news outlets including walesonline.co.uk and the Sunday Mirror.
31 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatStaff were evacuated from the RTÉ building following a bomb threat. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatScores of other media outlets across Ireland and Britain also received the threat. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatRTÉ moved to pre-recorded programmes as a precautionary measure. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatThe email claimed an operative had planted an explosive device inside the building. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatStaff were given 45 minutes to evacuate before the device would detonate. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatMedia organisations in Ireland and the UK, including Virgin Media, Newstalk and Independent House, received the threats. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe incidents followed bomb threats sent to airlines across Europe in recent days, including one targeting flights from Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe email was signed by a person calling himself Mikhail Andropov, described as one of the leaders of the group responsible for the bomb threats against airplanes in Europe. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe email threatened to blow up airplanes, cruise ships, subway stations, and trains. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatStaff at RTÉ, Newstalk and Mediahuis had their work disrupted after receiving an email threat. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe email did not specify a named target. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe email was addressed to news outlets in the UK including walesonline.co.uk and the Sunday Mirror, along with Irish organisations. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe incident occurred at RTÉ studios in Donnybrook, Dublin 4. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whereMediahuis evacuated its offices on Talbot Street in Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereRadio station Newstalk, located at Marconi House, was also cleared. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe threat was received by email on Friday morning. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whenThe threats arrived ahead of a week when Ireland will host two major European political summits as part of its six-month presidency of the EU Council. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe EPC summit starts in Dublin on Thursday, 12 November. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardai are investigating the incident. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationThere was a Garda presence on the RTÉ campus on Friday morning. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationA Garda spokesperson confirmed they were aware of threats against media stations in Ireland and in Europe. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationSniffer dogs were on the Montrose campus as gardaí continue to search. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtMinister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan said the threats are the subject of an active investigation by An Garda Síochána. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherA heavy garda presence was at the scene. (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherO'Callaghan placed the threats in the context of hybrid attacks across Europe. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe incidents follow on from bomb threats to airlines across Europe on Thursday. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherFianna Fáil MEP Barry Andrews said the threats were similar to what occurred in Denmark before it hosted the EPC summit. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherGardaí believe the threat is a hoax. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe Government stated it seems likely the threats are a co-ordinated campaign of disruption. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherFrench prime minister Sébastien Lecornu said four flights were targeted with threats, all landed safely and were inspected. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherPolice in Denmark and the Czech Republic are also investigating threats to flights. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 6 Nov2026
    Reportedirishtimes.com, its first report
    Bomb threats at RTÉ, Irish Independent and Newstalk linked to pattern of ‘hybrid attacks’

    Adds details on the evacuations at Mediahuis and Newstalk, the Minister for Justice's framing of the threats as 'hybrid attacks,' the connection to the EPC summit in Dublin on 12 November, the email also being sent to UK outlets (walesonline.co.uk, Sunday Mirror), sniffer dogs searching the RTÉ Montrose campus, and the Government statement describing the threats as a 'co-ordinated campaign of disruption.'

  2. 6 Nov2026
    Reportedirishmirror.ie, its first report
    'The clock is ticking': Sinister email sent to RTÉ in full

    Provides the full text of the bomb threat email, identifying the sender as 'Mikhail Andropov' and linking the threat to recent airline bomb threats across Europe. Also notes the threats arrived ahead of two major European political summits hosted by Ireland during its EU Council presidency.

  3. 6 Nov2026
    Reporteddublinlive.ie, first report
    RTÉ staff evacuated after bomb threat- live updates

    Live blog covering the evacuation of RTÉ studios and other media offices following a bomb threat received by email; scores of other media outlets across Ireland and Britain were also warned.

Changed after publication

facts outlets added, removed or corrected

dublinlive.ie, 6 Nov 2026, 12:34: RTÉ staff evacuated after bomb threat- live updates

  • RemovedSinéad Gibney, Social Democrats TD for Dublin Rathdown, condemned threats to media and referenced evacuations at RTÉ, Newstalk and the Irish Independent

dublinlive.ie, 6 Nov 2026, 11:33: RTÉ staff evacuated after bomb threat- live updates

  • RemovedNewstalk and Mediahuis staff were evacuated from their offices at Talbot Street and Marconi House in Dublin
  • AddedSinéad Gibney, Social Democrats TD for Dublin Rathdown, condemned the threats to media