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Northern Ireland police hail massive explosives find in west Belfast Northern Ireland police hail massive explosives find in west Belfast
(about 2 hours later)
Police in Northern Ireland have confirmed they have inflicted a huge blow on anti-ceasefire republicans in Belfast with the discovery of a large ammunition and explosives haul.Police in Northern Ireland have confirmed they have inflicted a huge blow on anti-ceasefire republicans in Belfast with the discovery of a large ammunition and explosives haul.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) revealed on Tuesday that they seized 700 rounds of ammunition, seven mercury tilt switches used to detonate bombs, detonator cord, an assault rifle magazine and firework powder during weekend searches in the west of the city. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) revealed on Tuesday that it seized 700 rounds of ammunition, seven mercury tilt switches used to detonate bombs, detonator cord, an assault rifle magazine and firework powder during weekend searches in the west of the city.
The items recovered were in the main to be used for a terror campaign of under-car boobytrap bombs as well as larger explosive devices to be used in the runup to Christmas, according to one security source. The items recovered were in the main to be used for a terror campaign of under-car boobytrap bombs as well as larger explosive devices to be used in the run-up to Christmas, according to one security source.
The find is related to a security operation in the republican Twinbrook area of west Belfast on Saturday and Sunday during which scuffles broke out between local youths and PSNI officers in Broom Close. The find is related to a security operation in the republican Twinbrook area of west Belfast on Saturday and Sunday, during which scuffles broke out between local youths and PSNI officers in Broom Close.
A 57-year old-woman and a 44-year-old man were arrested on Sunday and remain in custody, the PSNI said on Tuesday. A 57-year old-woman and a 44-year-old man were arrested on Sunday and remain in custody, the PSNI said.
DI Philip Montgomery described the operation as a “significant find” that had taken off the streets material designed to kill and injure. DI Philip Montgomery described the operation as a significant find that had taken off the streets material designed to kill and injure. “We apologise to local communities who were inconvenienced by Sunday’s searches. We would like to thank local political and community representatives for working with us during the search operation,” Montgomery said.
“We apologise to local communities who were inconvenienced by Sunday’s searches. We would like to thank local political and community representatives for working with us during the search operation. “I am sure the ovewhelming majority of people in these communities are thankful that such items have been prevented from causing harm. We will continue to work with communities to reduce the threat posed by those involved in such activity and would ask people to contact police if they have any suspicions about terrorist activity.”
“I am sure the ovewhelming majority of people in these communities are thankful that such items have been prevented from causing harm. We will continue to work with communities to reduce the threat posed by those involved in such activity and would ask people to contact police if they have any suspicions about terrorist activity,” Montgomery said.
The PSNI’s confirmation of the ammunition and explosives find came nearly 72 hours after local Sinn Féin representatives on the housing estate where IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands grew up first claimed the searches had resulted in the discovery of the weapons.The PSNI’s confirmation of the ammunition and explosives find came nearly 72 hours after local Sinn Féin representatives on the housing estate where IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands grew up first claimed the searches had resulted in the discovery of the weapons.
They are understood to have belonged to the anti-ceasefire republican faction Oglaigh na hEireann (ONH), which has a small but active base in west Belfast. They are understood to have belonged to the anti-ceasefire republican faction Óglaigh na hÉireann (ONH), which has a small but active base in west Belfast.
So far this year, all three dissident republican groups – ONH, the New IRA and the Continuity IRA – have failed to mount any major attacks on the security forces across Northern Ireland. So far this year, all three dissident republican groups – ONH, the New IRA and the Continuity IRA – have failed to mount any major attacks on the security forces across Northern Ireland. The majority of their victims instead have been local Catholics and nationalists these organisations have accused of “anti social behaviour” in working-class republican districts.
The majority of their victims instead have been local Catholics and nationalists these organisations have accused of “anti social behaviour” in working-class republican districts. The latest of these attacks took place on Monday night when a 23-year-old man was found with gunshot wounds in both legs inside the living room of a house in the Brandywell Road area of Derry city where the New IRA has a presence. The latest of these attacks took place on Monday night, when a 23-year-old man was found with gunshot wounds in a house in the Brandywell Road area of Derry city, where the New IRA has a presence.
A PSNI officer said the man was shot through both thigh bones and had sustained “life-changing injuries” as a result.A PSNI officer said the man was shot through both thigh bones and had sustained “life-changing injuries” as a result.