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David Ford says Kinawley, Fermanagh, explosives threat to community | David Ford says Kinawley, Fermanagh, explosives threat to community |
(35 minutes later) | |
Explosives and other weapons found in County Fermanagh represented "a threat to the community", Northern Ireland's justice minister has said. | Explosives and other weapons found in County Fermanagh represented "a threat to the community", Northern Ireland's justice minister has said. |
David Ford congratulated police over their operation that began on Wednesday, with searches centring on a farm close to the Irish border. | David Ford congratulated police over their operation that began on Wednesday, with searches centring on a farm close to the Irish border. |
Police said a "significant" amount of explosives had been found and linked the weapons to dissident republicans. | Police said a "significant" amount of explosives had been found and linked the weapons to dissident republicans. |
A 43-year-old man is still being questioned about the find. | A 43-year-old man is still being questioned about the find. |
Searches of buildings, vehicles and fields at the farm in Kinawley are continuing on Saturday. | |
"It is absolutely clear that all that would have happened would have been a threat to the community, potentially to civilians not involved in any way with the security forces - death and destruction caused for no reason whatsoever," Mr Ford said. | "It is absolutely clear that all that would have happened would have been a threat to the community, potentially to civilians not involved in any way with the security forces - death and destruction caused for no reason whatsoever," Mr Ford said. |
"My message is quite simple - give up, there is no cause that could justify the type of actions which were being proposed, it's time that people give up. | "My message is quite simple - give up, there is no cause that could justify the type of actions which were being proposed, it's time that people give up. |
"There is no justification whatsoever for this type of violence. It must be condemned and the community must stand up against it." | "There is no justification whatsoever for this type of violence. It must be condemned and the community must stand up against it." |
'Serious harm' | 'Serious harm' |
Police said the find had "prevented serious harm by violent dissident republicans". | Police said the find had "prevented serious harm by violent dissident republicans". |
George Hamilton, Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), said: "We believe we have prevented serious harm being caused to our communities and I welcome the efforts by my colleagues in the crime operations department." | George Hamilton, Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), said: "We believe we have prevented serious harm being caused to our communities and I welcome the efforts by my colleagues in the crime operations department." |
He added: "We do believe that violent dissident republicans are behind this activity in Fermanagh." | He added: "We do believe that violent dissident republicans are behind this activity in Fermanagh." |
The secretary of state congratulated the security forces on the operation. | The secretary of state congratulated the security forces on the operation. |
Theresa Villiers said: "I welcome the efforts of the PSNI which has resulted in a significant find of explosives and other terrorist material. | Theresa Villiers said: "I welcome the efforts of the PSNI which has resulted in a significant find of explosives and other terrorist material. |
"Their actions have undoubtedly saved lives and have made Northern Ireland a safer place." | "Their actions have undoubtedly saved lives and have made Northern Ireland a safer place." |
Detectives have been granted a further three days to question a 43-year-old man, arrested on Wednesday as a result of what they called "suspicious activity". | Detectives have been granted a further three days to question a 43-year-old man, arrested on Wednesday as a result of what they called "suspicious activity". |
A 35-year-old man arrested in north Belfast on Thursday has been released unconditionally. | A 35-year-old man arrested in north Belfast on Thursday has been released unconditionally. |