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Warnings of `lone wolf' attacks in the Republic

Larry and Martina Hayes
Larry and Martina Hayes Larry and Martina Hayes

The Irish government has been warned that a so-called ‘lone wolf’ terror attack could take place in the Republic.

A Department of Defence policy white paper on potential threats to the state expresses concern that a range of influences, including the internet, can facilitate radicalisation.

The document says that Irish citizens are already known to have travelled to trouble spots in Iraq, Syria and Libya.

Earlier this year Garda Commissioner Noirin O’Sullivan told members of the Oireachtas Justice Committee that gardaí were monitoring the internet for potential attacks by individual extremists.

She stressed that while there was “no immediate threat” gardaí remained “very mindful” of events in the rest of the world and that the force’s anti-terrorism units were working closely with their international counterparts.

Irish officials continued to make arrangements for the repatriation of the victims' remains to Ireland as Tunisia's Interior Minister Najem Gharsalli confirmed that a "significant number" of suspects had been arrested.

The Tunisian authorities have warned that anyone suspected of providing "logistical or financial assistance" to killer Seifeddine Rezgui will be tracked down.

Billy Kelleher, brother of victim Lorna Carty, has condemned those behind the murder of 38 holidaymakers as "evil rats" and has accused governments of failing to adequately tackle Islamic extremists.

Irish tour operator, Sunway, is set to go ahead with its scheduled charter flight from Dublin Airport on Friday however the Department of Foreign Affairs is continuing to advise holidaymakers to exercise "extreme caution".