Gardai search RTE car park after hoax bomb threat made
A criminal investigation is expected to be launched after a hoax caller warned that they had planted a bomb in the RTE studios car park.
The false report resulted in gardai sending a large response to the Montrose area, including members of the Armed Support Unit (ASU).
A thorough examination was carried out of the car park but no suspicious device was found and the incident is now being treated as a hoax.
A garda investigation is now expected to be launched into the incident, which resulted in a number of staff being evacuated from the TV building.
The offence could fall under Section 12 of the Criminal Justice Act, which relates to an individual knowingly making a false report that tends to "give rise to apprehension for the safety of persons or property".
The act also covers an individual making a false report, which "causes the time of the Garda Siochana to be wastefully employed".
A summary conviction can result in a fine not exceeding €500 or a maximum jail term of 12 months, while conviction on indictment carries a maximum sentence of five years.
Anonymous
It is understood that a number of hoax calls were made to media outlets by an anonymous caller, claiming that they had placed a bomb in the car park.
In a statement last night, the national broadcaster said: "RTE can confirm that An Garda Siochana were on site this afternoon due to a security issue.
"RTE does not comment on security issues as protocol."
The scare happened shortly after 4pm yesterday and resulted in a number of staff members leaving the TV building.
However, gardai did not order the evacuation of the building.