Bomb scare at Limerick city bank

Ulster Bank Limerick
Ulster Bank Limerick
Ulster Bank Limerick

A SECOND bomb scare, in as many days, has forced the evacuation of Limerick city centre bank this Wednesday afternoon after a primary school was one of four targeted on Tuesday.

Shortly before 4pm this Wednesday, gardai were alerted to a possible bomb scare, indicating a a suspicious device or package at the Ulster Bank premises on O’Connell Street in Limerick city centre and an emergency action plan was launched.

Gardai, based at their regional and divisional headquarters just around the corner from the bank on Henry Street, were on scene to carry out searches and ensure that the emergency action plans of the banking firm were put in place.

It is understood that a number of Gardai were also in the area at another office block and assisted at the bank.

Staff, management and customers of the bank were ushered outside the building as upwards of 20 gardai carried out searches.

Almost 30 minutes later, the area and building was declared safe and staff and management were allowed to return inside.

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Emergency Services have been stood down as the latest scare is now understood to be linked to a series of hoax attacks carried out through a type of automated messaging system.

This latest alert comes after Milford National School was evacuated on Tuesday morning shortly before 10am when a message was received indicating that there was a package was inside.

Upwards of 500 school children and staff were evacuated from the Castletroy based school which is adjacent to the University of Limerick campus.

The school was thoroughly searched as anxious parents watched on as children played in the Summer sunshine.

It later emerged that the alert was part of an elaborate hoax scam.

Diarmaid Moore, the new principal at the school said that the safety plan was put in place and enacted when the message was received at 9:45am.

After the alert was stood down, staff, management and the children were allowed back to class where they were briefed on the incident.

Similarly, schools in Waterford, Dublin and Carlow were also targeted in Tuesday’s hoax as were dozens of schools in the UK.

Gardai say that they are investigating the matter and Tuesday’s alert at the primary school and will leave “no stone unturned”.

 

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