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Three released over police attack | Three released over police attack |
(about 6 hours later) | |
Three of the five men arrested after an attack on a police officer in County Fermanagh at the weekend have been released without charge. | Three of the five men arrested after an attack on a police officer in County Fermanagh at the weekend have been released without charge. |
One of the men had been arrested by Irish police in County Leitrim while two of four men arrested by police in Northern Ireland were also released. | One of the men had been arrested by Irish police in County Leitrim while two of four men arrested by police in Northern Ireland were also released. |
Two other men - aged 41 and 26 - are still being questioned. | Two other men - aged 41 and 26 - are still being questioned. |
It has emerged that members of Army special forces were involved in preventing the attack. | |
One shot was fired at undercover police in the village of Garrison on Saturday. | One shot was fired at undercover police in the village of Garrison on Saturday. |
Police fired two shots in return but nobody was hurt. | Police fired two shots in return but nobody was hurt. |
It is understood soldiers from the elite Special Reconnaissance Regiment had monitored the movements of those involved in the Fermanagh attack for a number of days. | It is understood soldiers from the elite Special Reconnaissance Regiment had monitored the movements of those involved in the Fermanagh attack for a number of days. |
It is believed dissident republicans were targeting a Catholic man who joined the PSNI a few weeks ago and travelled back to the village at weekends to visit his girlfriend. | It is believed dissident republicans were targeting a Catholic man who joined the PSNI a few weeks ago and travelled back to the village at weekends to visit his girlfriend. |
Growing threat from dissident republicans | |
PSNI Chief Constable Matt Baggott has refused to be drawn on whether the military assisted undercover police in foiling the attack. | PSNI Chief Constable Matt Baggott has refused to be drawn on whether the military assisted undercover police in foiling the attack. |
Tracking | Tracking |
However, the BBC understands that the Special Reconnaisance Regiment provided the initial information that the officer was being targeted. | |
Undercover soldiers were then involved in tracking and watching those allegedly involved in the murder attempt for a number of days. | Undercover soldiers were then involved in tracking and watching those allegedly involved in the murder attempt for a number of days. |
In March the BBC revealed that members of the regiment had been brought into Northern Ireland at the request of the PSNI to help combat the growing dissident threat. | In March the BBC revealed that members of the regiment had been brought into Northern Ireland at the request of the PSNI to help combat the growing dissident threat. |
They have been particularly active in County Fermanagh because it was considered to be an area where the threat to police officers was highest. | They have been particularly active in County Fermanagh because it was considered to be an area where the threat to police officers was highest. |
The detonator went off in a car but the bomb failed to explode in Belfast | |
Dissidents are also believed to be responsible for leaving a 400lb bomb at the Policing Board headquarters in Belfast on Saturday. | Dissidents are also believed to be responsible for leaving a 400lb bomb at the Policing Board headquarters in Belfast on Saturday. |
Police say the two attacks were not co-ordinated but the result of coincidence rather than planning. | Police say the two attacks were not co-ordinated but the result of coincidence rather than planning. |
Politicians have called for tighter security measures to protect Policing Board members and staff after the attempted bomb attack in Belfast on Saturday. | Politicians have called for tighter security measures to protect Policing Board members and staff after the attempted bomb attack in Belfast on Saturday. |
Two men crashed a car through the security barrier at the Clarendon Dock complex at 1900 GMT and abandoned the bomb in front of the board headquarters. | Two men crashed a car through the security barrier at the Clarendon Dock complex at 1900 GMT and abandoned the bomb in front of the board headquarters. |
It is thought that only the detonator went off and no-one was hurt. | It is thought that only the detonator went off and no-one was hurt. |
No one has been arrested in relation to that attack. | |
Earlier this month, the Independent Monitoring Commission (IMC) reported that the dissident republican threat in Northern Ireland was at its highest level for almost six years. | Earlier this month, the Independent Monitoring Commission (IMC) reported that the dissident republican threat in Northern Ireland was at its highest level for almost six years. |
The IMC said the two main dissident republican groups, the Real IRA and the Continuity IRA, were working more closely together to increase the threat posed to security forces. | The IMC said the two main dissident republican groups, the Real IRA and the Continuity IRA, were working more closely together to increase the threat posed to security forces. |
Last week, police in Armagh found a mortar bomb which, they said, was intended to kill police officers. | Last week, police in Armagh found a mortar bomb which, they said, was intended to kill police officers. |