A car bomb containing suspected military grade explosives has been intercepted near the Irish border in an operation targeting dissident republicans. Two people have been arrested.
Details of the operation
Members of the Garda's Special Detective Unit stopped a vehicle travelling on the N2 south of Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan on Wednesday afternoon in what they called an 'intelligence-led swoop'. The Irish Defence Forces EOD team examined the vehicle and found a device containing suspected military grade explosives.
Garda sources described the bomb as 'highly sophisticated' and 'advanced'. RTE reported it is believed the device was being driven across the border for an attack in Northern Ireland.
Arrests and investigation
The female driver, aged in her 20s, was arrested at the scene and remained in Garda custody on Friday. A second suspect, a man aged in his 40s, has since been arrested and is being held at a Garda station in the Dublin area.
Official comments
Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly confirmed details of the operation at a Garda graduation event in Co Tipperary on Friday. 'To be clear, what we found was an extremely significant seizure,' he said. 'So this was an explosive device.'
Kelly added: 'Any seizure of this nature is really concerning. However, we certainly know that there are a small minority of dissident republicans who did not agree with the Good Friday Agreement, they did not put weapons and explosives (out of use), they didn't, you know, go through with the proper process in relation to decommissioning. So that is something that we continue to deal with.'
He described the individuals as 'radicalised republicans' and said the threat is one 'we're going to continue to face for some time in An Garda Síochána'. He noted close cooperation with the PSNI and UK intelligence services.
