Following contact earlier today from the Slovakian authorities with the Airport Police at Dublin Airport, members of the Garda Síochána recovered a small quantity of explosive material from the luggage of a passenger who had flown into Dublin from that country on Saturday.
It has since been established that this material was concealed without his knowledge or consent in the passenger’s luggage as part of an airport security exercise by the authorities in Slovakia. The Slovakian Minister for the Interior conveyed to Justice Minister Dermot Ahern his Government’s profound regret for this incident.
Minister Ahern has asked the Garda Commissioner for a full report on the matter. The Commissioner has informed him that he has appointed a Chief Superintendent to investigate fully the circumstances surrounding the incident.
An Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team attended the scene. Houses were evacuated but residents have now returned.
One man in his 40s was arrested at 11am and held in Mountjoy Garda under section 30 Offences Against the State 1939. He was later released.
An Garda Siochana is in ongoing contact with authorities in Slovakia and Commissioner Fachtna Murphy appointed Detective Chief Superintendent Martin McLaughlin to establish the full background to this incident.
