50 Leaders Expected at Dublin Summit Amid Heightened Security

Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly stated that the force is prepared for all eventualities as up to 50 heads of state and international leaders gather in Dublin. This week’s security operation is the largest in the state’s history, involving over 5,000 Garda members. The total cost of the operation is estimated in the tens of millions.

On Tuesday morning, a threat against a Ryanair flight at Dublin Airport was assessed. The plane continued its planned journey to Bulgaria without interruption. Kelly confirmed at least two other hoaxes occurred in the past 24 hours, though he did not specify their nature.

The Irish Times reported that a bomb threat against a school in Cork on Monday has been linked to a child. Kelly noted that bomb hoaxes and threats targeted airlines across Europe last week. He described all of these as false alarms. The initial assessments suggested the threats originated abroad.

Kelly explained that hybrid threats, including hoaxes and cyber attacks, were expected due to the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. He cited Russia’s history of grey zone attacks and disruption. However, he added that none of the threats focused on Ireland alone. They were European in nature.

Kelly said there was no credibility to the hoaxes targeting media outlets and flights departing Dublin. He emphasized the collaboration with security partners abroad and policing partners. The assessment determined the threat level from these specific incidents was low.

Assistant Commissioner Jonathan Roberts, the senior officer in charge of policing in Dublin, warned that any obstruction on the roads will be dealt with swiftly. He referred to the fuel-related protests in April. More than 500 public order unit gardaí are on standby. Two water cannons and heavy-duty towing vehicles are also positioned.

Roberts stated there is no evidence that an anti-Government protest planned for Friday in Dublin will be anything but peaceful. Heavy vehicle mitigation barriers will be visible on Dublin streets. These barriers aim to prevent large vehicles from being weaponised. They also help limit efforts to obstruct roads as a form of protest.

Security scanning equipment will check for weapons or explosives as people enter security-cordoned areas. Police officers from Latvia, Portugal, and Northern Ireland will be on the ground in Dublin. They will augment the Garda’s and Defence Forces’ anti-drone operation. These officers also provide and handle sniffer dogs trained to find bombs.

The main focus of the operation is the Convention Centre and the surrounding cordon at the International Financial Services Centre on Dublin’s north quays. The European Political Community meeting takes place there on Thursday. It involves up to 50 European leaders and heads of European organisations. This is the biggest event of Ireland’s six-month presidency of the Council of the EU.

An informal meeting of heads of state or government will take place on Friday, also at the Convention Centre. The presidents of the European Council and European Commission will attend. British prime minister Andy Burnham and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy will also be present. Their presence adds an additional layer of security, especially after large drones were seen near the flight path of Zelenskiy’s plane during a visit last December.

The policing operation includes safeguarding airport perimeters with drone incursions in mind. It involves escorting heads of state in convoys with armed gardaí. Security teams will ensure leaders are secured when they stay overnight. The operation aims to limit the risks posed by robust street protests.

The surge involves over 15,000 tours of duty, each lasting 12 hours. More than 100 advanced escort training Garda motorcyclists and 200 motorcycle security escorts are part of the deployment. Over 200 members of the Garda’s trained search teams have carried out days of searching and patrols on the river Liffey. Defence Forces personnel have assisted in this work to secure the Convention Centre and other key locations.