Dublin Braces for EU Summit Security Surge
Gardaí Commissioner Justin Kelly confirms preparations for the European Political Community meeting, following a series of European-wide bomb hoaxes.
By Ricardo Brooks ·
Ireland hosts the European Political Community summit this week, bringing up to 50 heads of state to Dublin for the central event of its six-month EU presidency. Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly stated on Tuesday that the national police force is prepared for all eventualities despite acknowledged security risks.
A bomb threat against a Ryanair flight at Dublin Airport on Tuesday morning was assessed and cleared, allowing the plane to continue its journey to Bulgaria. Kelly noted that similar hoaxes and threats targeting airlines and media outlets across Europe last week were found to be false alarms. He indicated that these disruptions were likely linked to the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, citing Russia’s history of grey zone attacks.
The Irish police expect increased hybrid threats, including cyber attacks and hoaxes, during the build-up to the summit. Kelly described the threats from last week as having low credibility and originating abroad. He confirmed that at least two additional hoaxes occurred in the past 24 hours, though he did not specify their nature. The security operation for the summit will cost tens of millions of euros.
Policing resources for the event will exceed 5,000 Garda members, who will perform more than 15,000 twelve-hour tours of duty. The force will deploy over 100 advanced escort training motorcyclists and 200 motorcycle security escorts. Specialist barriers are being installed on Dublin streets to prevent large vehicles from being weaponized, a measure that may also impede road obstructions during protests.
Assistant Commissioner Jonathan Roberts, who oversees policing in Dublin, stated that any obstruction of roads will be dealt with swiftly. He noted there is no evidence that an anti-government protest planned for Friday will be anything but peaceful. More than 500 public order unit officers and two water cannons are on standby for potential street disturbances.
International police from Latvia, Portugal, and Northern Ireland are assisting with anti-drone operations and bomb detection using sniffer dogs. The main security focus is the Convention Centre at the International Financial Services Centre, where the summit takes place on Thursday. The following day, an informal meeting of heads of state will be held at the same venue, attended by the presidents of the European Council and European Commission.
The presence of British Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy adds a specific security dimension. Large drones were observed near the flight path of Zelenskiy’s aircraft during his visit to Dublin last December. The operation includes securing airport perimeters, escorting leaders with armed officers, and providing overnight security for heads of state.
