Operation took place in Co Galway this morning as part of the investigation being led by the Garda’s counter-terror branch
The suspect was arrested during an operation in Co Galway this morning as part of the investigation being led by the Garda’s counter-terror branch.
The Special Detective Unit (SDU), which deals with threats to national security, launched an investigation after a number of messages were shared online last weekend threatening Simon Harris and his family.
They were posted in the comments section on the Taoiseach’s Instagram account, and made references to knives, his wife and young children, and the Wicklow Mountains.
The poster also warned Mr Harris: “They’re coming for you”.
The threatening messages have since been removed, with the threats being taken seriously by gardaí and have been described as credible.
As part of the inquiry, gardaí have been making efforts to identify the poster, who used a private account with only the username and picture visible to the public.
This morning members of the SDU carried out a search operation in the Galway area.
A man, aged in his 40s, was arrested during the operation and is currently being detained on suspicion of making the death threats.
It is the latest incident in recent months in which attempts to threaten or intimidate the country’s leader and his family have been made.
On one occasion masked men arrived outside his Wicklow home, while his wife and children were inside, under the guise of protesting the Government’s immigration policy.
It followed a similar incident weeks earlier, with gardaí treating these as acts of harassment and intimidation.
In June a sinister bomb threat was also made against the Taoiseach, claiming that an explosive device had been placed in the family home.
His wife and children were in the property at the time and after a search gardaí declared the scene safe.
This threat has also been under investigation by the SDU who have identified a high-profile prisoner as a suspect.
A 53-year-old inmate was arrested on Friday as part of that investigation.
The man, who is serving a sentence for a violent crime, was taken from custody and quizzed for several hours on suspicion of making the hoax bomb threat before being released without charge.
The Sunday Independent has also reported today that the Taoiseach is to host a major online safety summit and has written to key government departments setting out plans to clamp down on social media companies over their handling of online threats, bullying and the increasing spread of misinformation.
It’s understood the Mr Harris wrote to ministers this weekend insisting social media can no longer be a “hiding place for bullies” or people with “sinister motives” who threaten and incite violence.