Suspect package sent to gay rights group Glen proves hoax

A suspicious device sent to the offices of the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network (Glen) in Dublin city centre on Thursday turned out to be a hoax but resulted in a significant security operation being put into place.

The Garda, Dublin Fire Brigade and the Army’s bomb disposal team were called to Glen’s office on Exchange Street Upper, Dublin 8, when a parcel arrived in the morning post with powder inside.

It also included a handwritten note saying “goodbye”. The emergency services were alerted immediately.

The building was evacuated and a busy area of Dublin sealed off before the package could be properly examined and tested for biological, chemical and hazardous materials.

The operation continued for five hours until the powder was declared a hoax and the area reopened.

Glen, in a post on its Twitter account, said the response of the emergency services had been “terrific”.