Gardaí are monitoring “potential threats” to St. Patrick’s Day events in Ireland that are “inciting attacks on behalf of [ISIS]” online, An Garda Síochána has confirmed.
In a statement sent to Gript this week, Gardaí said they are “aware of an online posting inciting attacks on behalf of IS [the Islamic State terrorist group, also known as ISIS].”
“The posting referred to a number of high profile events/occasions occurring throughout Europe, including ‘St Patrick’s Day (Ireland) (Europe),’” the Garda statement read.
“No specific event is highlighted in Ireland. An Garda Síochána remains vigilant regarding potential threats of this nature.”
Gardaí added that “contemporary incidents throughout Europe demonstrate that religiously motivated violent extremism attacks can be both indiscriminate and unpredictable, with little or no advance warning provided.”
Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan has also previously acknowledged his awareness of these reports, adding that “An Garda Síochána, working with their international partners, remain vigilant regarding potential security threats and the authorities here are taking, and will continue to take, the necessary and appropriate measures to counteract the threat from terrorism.”
In Austria, security measures were ramped up ahead of the prestigious Vienna Opera Ball last week, which was also among the ten listed targets. Authorities deployed 500 police officers, including special forces, to secure the event following threats from IS-K. According to Austrian news outlet Kronen Zeitung, security at the ball was heightened due to the ongoing Islamist terror threat across Europe.
The latest confirmation from Gardaí follows previous Gript reports that Europol is monitoring an Islamist terrorist threat against St. Patrick’s Day events in Ireland.
As reported by this publication in late January, Europol confirmed they were aware of “terrorist propaganda material” which included jihadist threats directed at Ireland. The EU agency said such propaganda is aimed at “radicalising and recruiting individuals to terrorism and violent extremism.”
A graphic shared by IS-K, the regional affiliate of ISIS based in Afghanistan and Central Asia, listed ten potential attack targets, including St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland.
Responding to this, organisers of the St. Patrick’s Day festival told Gript that “The safety of festival attendees is of paramount importance to St. Patrick’s Festival,” adding: “We work closely with An Garda Siochana in the lead up to and throughout the festival and take on board all and any advice that they offer.”
The Europol Terrorism Situation and Trend Report 2024 noted a surge in jihadist terror-related arrests across Europe last year, with such figures doubling in Ireland compared to the year prior. Europol also stated that “radicalisation patterns show a shorter period of time compared to the past, between the point when these young individuals start consuming terrorist propaganda online and the point when they decide to participate in a violent attack.”
The Islamic State has previously claimed responsibility for several mass-casualty attacks in Europe, including the 2016 Bastille Day truck attack in Nice, which killed 86 people, and the 2017 London Bridge attack, where three Islamist extremists killed eight people and injured 48. Notably, one of the London Bridge attackers had lived in the Rathmines area of Dublin.
In August 2024, a 16-year-old boy was arrested in Galway for repeatedly stabbing an Irish Defence Forces priest, with Gardaí stating that the accused had a “radical Islamist mindset.” He later pled guilty to attempted murder, with Gardaí saying he had been radicalised by extremist material online.
In 2018, Gardaí established an anti-terrorism operation for the St. Patrick’s Day parade, positioning large vehicles along the parade route to prevent potential attacks such as those seen in Nice and London.
However, authorities have not provided further comment at this time or outlined any specific security measures being taken for this year’s events.