Dissident arrests, dublin, newry, november 2014

15/11/2014 Dublin Arrest

A man in his late 50s is being quizzed in Mountjoy Garda station after a raid on a house in Dublin last night by gardai investigating dissident republican activity.

Gardaí recovered four handguns and a shotgun during the search of a house on Church Road, East Wall at around 1.40pm.

The operation involved the Organised Crime Unit.

A dozen men have been arrested by police investigating the Continuity IRA terror group in Northern Ireland.

Up-Date

A DEFENCE FORCES bomb squad was called in to assist gardaí today, after detectives uncovered a massive stash of weapons and bomb-making material in Dublin raids.

The latest crackdown on dissident republicans has been ongoing since yesterday.

Premises in East Wall, Ballymun and Cloughran were searched — and gardaí uncovered a number of semi automatic pistols, a sawn-off shotgun and an AK47 assault rifle.

“Gardaí also discovered bomb making material at one of the location’s where the assistance of the Army  Explosive Ordnance Disposal team was sought in order to render the area safe,” a statement said.

“A controlled explosion was also carried out.”

The locations have all been examined by forensics experts.

A senior garda detective at the scene described the seizures as “very significant” and “a major setback against the criminal and subversive activities of  dissident republicans”.

Two men in their 50s have been arrested. They’re being questioned at Mountjoy and Coolock  garda stations.

11^th November 2014 Newry arrests

Detectives said they were probing "violent dissident republican" activity after raiding a house in Newry close to the border with the Irish Republic.

The suspects were aged between 36 and 75, some from the Republic. They were detained using anti-terrorism powers and may be held for up to 28 days.

Officers from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) are quizzing them at Antrim police station.

The Continuity IRA is one of several relatively small but dangerous armed republican groups opposed to the peace process in Northern Ireland. Police are on high alert for attacks by extremists.

Last night's operation at a house in Ardcarne Park in Newry was described by police as "proactive".

Detective Superintendent Kevin Geddes, from the force's serious crime branch, said: "Police are determined to investigate those individuals suspected of involvement in serious crime.

"This investigation is an example of our commitment to keep everyone in the community safe."

Garda sources in Dublin confirmed a number of the individuals arrested during the sweep were from the Republic.

Gardai are working with their counterparts north of the border on the investigation.

However, there have been no searches or arrests in the Republic so far connected to the operation.

A Garda spokesman said: "We are assisting the PSNI in relation to an ongoing investigation into dissident republican activities."