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Capanagh Forest arms find 'one of most significant in years', police say | Capanagh Forest arms find 'one of most significant in years', police say |
(35 minutes later) | |
A discovery of arms in a County Antrim forest was one of the most significant in recent years, police in Northern Ireland have said. | |
A "terrorist hide" was uncovered at Capanagh Forest near Larne after two members of the public found suspicious objects in the woods on Saturday. | |
Some of the items found included an armour-piercing improvised rocket and two anti-personnel mines. | Some of the items found included an armour-piercing improvised rocket and two anti-personnel mines. |
The main line of police inquiry is the arms belonged to dissident republicans. | The main line of police inquiry is the arms belonged to dissident republicans. |
Last week, Home Secretary Theresa May said MI5 believed an attack on targets in Great Britain by dissident republicans had become "a strong possibility". | |
Det Supt Kevin Geddes said the threat level in Northern Ireland from dissident republican groups remains "severe" and an attack is "highly likely". | |
Police officers found three barrels hidden in holes in the forest. | |
As well as rockets and mines, there were also several pipe bombs, assault rifle ammunition and parts to construct a "substantial number of explosive devices". | |
Det Supt Geddes said the seizure was significant "both in terms of its size and its capability". | |
"A number of these devices were ready to be deployed," he added. | |
"This seizure has undoubtedly saved lives." | |
He said the type of weapons that had been found meant police would focus their investigation on dissident republicans. | |
In March, an arms find was made at Carnfunnock Country Park near Larne, and police said the were investigating a connection between the two discoveries. | |
"There are links in terms of the general location and the manner and method of storage and packaging of these munitions," Det Supt Geddes said. | |
He added that police are "indebted" to the two people who noticed the suspicious objects in the Capanagh Forest. |