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| NI terrorism: Royal Marine arrested, police searches in Larne and Exminster | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The arrest of a serving Royal Marine in Somerset over Northern Ireland-related terrorism has been followed by searches in Larne, County Antrim, and Devon. | |
| The 30-year-old man was detained by officers from the Metropolitan Police Service's Counter Terrorism Command. | The 30-year-old man was detained by officers from the Metropolitan Police Service's Counter Terrorism Command. |
| The Met is working with Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), which is conducting the searches in Larne. | The Met is working with Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), which is conducting the searches in Larne. |
| It is also working with police in Devon who are searching an address in Exminster and a wooded area nearby. | It is also working with police in Devon who are searching an address in Exminster and a wooded area nearby. |
| It is understood the operation is connected to the discovery of two arms dumps near Larne earlier this year, which were suspected to be linked to dissident republican paramilitaries. | It is understood the operation is connected to the discovery of two arms dumps near Larne earlier this year, which were suspected to be linked to dissident republican paramilitaries. |
| In March, the PSNI said they had uncovered a "significant terrorist hide" of bomb-making components and explosives at Carnfunnock Country Park. | In March, the PSNI said they had uncovered a "significant terrorist hide" of bomb-making components and explosives at Carnfunnock Country Park. |
| In May, a second significant arms cache, including an armour-piercing improvised rocket and two anti-personnel mines, was found at Capanagh Forest, near Larne. | In May, a second significant arms cache, including an armour-piercing improvised rocket and two anti-personnel mines, was found at Capanagh Forest, near Larne. |
| 'Intelligence-led' | 'Intelligence-led' |
| On Wednesday afternoon, at least two properties on the Old Glenarm Road in Larne were searched by PSNI officers while detectives in England searched an address in the Devon village of Exminster | On Wednesday afternoon, at least two properties on the Old Glenarm Road in Larne were searched by PSNI officers while detectives in England searched an address in the Devon village of Exminster |
| The man under arrest is suspected of being involved in preparing for acts of terrorism | The man under arrest is suspected of being involved in preparing for acts of terrorism |
| He is being held at a West Country police station. | He is being held at a West Country police station. |
| Police said the arrest was pre-planned and intelligence-led as part of a collaboration between the Met, the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the South West Counter Terrorism Intelligence Unit. | Police said the arrest was pre-planned and intelligence-led as part of a collaboration between the Met, the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the South West Counter Terrorism Intelligence Unit. |
| The arrest was made at 12:20 BST by Met detectives supported by officers from Avon and Somerset and Devon and Cornwall Police. | The arrest was made at 12:20 BST by Met detectives supported by officers from Avon and Somerset and Devon and Cornwall Police. |
| A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence said: "We are aware of a police investigation involving the arrest of a member of the armed forces under the 2000 Terrorism Act and will assist this investigation fully. | A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence said: "We are aware of a police investigation involving the arrest of a member of the armed forces under the 2000 Terrorism Act and will assist this investigation fully. |
| "It would be inappropriate to comment further on an ongoing investigation." | "It would be inappropriate to comment further on an ongoing investigation." |