Intel employs approximately 4,000 people at its plant in Leixlip

The Irish headquarters of technology company Intel were evacuated this morning after a bomb threat from a caller claiming to be from Islamic State.

He claimed 12 devices had been placed at various locations across the complex in Leixlip, Co Kildare, security sources told the Irish Independent.

But the site has since been cleared and employees have returned to work.

The threat was phoned in to police at about 5.30am.

Gardai contacted computer chip giant Intel, who in turn contacted their Emergency Response Team, prompting a security alert and mass evacuation of employees.

The threat was being treated as 'credible', according to the Irish Independent.

Special units conducted a thorough search of the campus for any suspect devices before reopening just after 9am.

Intel employs approximately 4,000 people at its plant in Leixlip. Staff were not allowed to access their vehicles until they were given the all-clear.

A construction project is also taking place at the campus, with a large number of contractors on site.

The alert caused traffic mayhem in the area.

Intel, which makes computer chips, says it has spent $5bn (€3.63bn) over the past three years upgrading its Leixlip headquarters.

However a $6bn Intel investment in Israel was also unveiled in May, raising questions about how Intel was positioning its Irish and Israeli facilities ahead of its next big manufacturing process.

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Belfast Telegraph