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Merrion Square North is closed to rush hour traffic this evening
Army bomb squad at scene of incident near Leinster House
The Army Bomb Squad are examining a suspicious package sent to the CEO of the Iona Institute today.
The incident has resulted in the closure of Merrion Square North.
The Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit from the Defence Forces were called after David Quinn, the CEO of the religious organisation, received a letter purporting to contain the dangerous substance anthrax.
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Speaking to the Irish Independent, Mr Quinn described the “very surreal and bizarre moment” he opened the envelope containing the alleged anthrax substance.
“I opened up the thing about one o’clock and all this powder comes out,” he said.
He immediately contacted An Garda Síochána who ordered the building to be cleared, and the EOD arrived at four o’clock.
“It was just addressed ‘Iona Institute’, so it’s basically targeting me and Breda O’Brien,” he said.
“I can only imagine that it’s somebody with a hang-up about the Catholic Church.”
In light of an increase in violent threats against public figures in Ireland, most notably against Tánaiste Simon Harris in recent weeks, Mr Quinn said that there is a “growing atmosphere of threat” pervading the political landscape.
“People who have a grievance against whatever it may be seem more prepared to do this kind of thing against whoever the target of their grievance may be.”
The Army Bomb Squad in Merrion Square. Pic: Gerry Mooney
He added that the Iona Institute regularly receives hateful mail, but nothing of this calibre.
The Iona Institute was founded by Mr Quinn in 2006 to promote the Christian religion, its social and moral values. He is also a columnist with the Sunday Independent.
Merrion Square North is a short distance from Government Buildings and Leinster House.
A spokesperson said gardaí were alerted to a “suspicious package at a premises on Merrion Square, Dublin 2 earlier this afternoon”.
“A cordon has been put in place around the area and the services of the army EOD team requested,” they said.
“No further information is available at this time.”
More to follow