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Police assisting in prison search | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Police are assisting the Prison Service with a major search operation at Maghaberry Prison in County Antrim. | |
Inmates have been locked in their cells and all domestic and legal visits to the jail have been suspended for the day. | |
A police spokesperson said that nothing had been found so far. | |
A Prison Service statement said the search was "in the interests of the safety of staff, prisoners and visitors". | A Prison Service statement said the search was "in the interests of the safety of staff, prisoners and visitors". |
Governor Steve Rodford said every effort was being made to keep disruption to a minimum. | Governor Steve Rodford said every effort was being made to keep disruption to a minimum. |
"I hope to be in a position to return to normal regime levels as soon as is practically possible," he said. | "I hope to be in a position to return to normal regime levels as soon as is practically possible," he said. |
Last month, traces of a component used in Semtex explosives were found in the cells of republican prisoners during searches. | Last month, traces of a component used in Semtex explosives were found in the cells of republican prisoners during searches. |
The component was detected in swab tests taken during routine searches of two cells at Roe House. | The component was detected in swab tests taken during routine searches of two cells at Roe House. |
At that time, a Prison Service spokesman said no Semtex was found during the operation. | At that time, a Prison Service spokesman said no Semtex was found during the operation. |
Maghaberry is Northern Ireland's high security prison with republican and loyalist paramilitaries among its inmates. | Maghaberry is Northern Ireland's high security prison with republican and loyalist paramilitaries among its inmates. |
The Prison Service said it regretted any inconvenience and that all visits lost would be re-scheduled. | The Prison Service said it regretted any inconvenience and that all visits lost would be re-scheduled. |