Northern Ireland

Paramilitary Crime Task Force operation 'is targeting the INLA in Belfast'

Police at the offices of the Irish Republican Socialist Party in west Belfast. Picture by Mal McCann
Police at the offices of the Irish Republican Socialist Party in west Belfast. Picture by Mal McCann Police at the offices of the Irish Republican Socialist Party in west Belfast. Picture by Mal McCann

The INLA is the focus of a Paramilitary Crime Task Force operation taking place in Belfast involving more than 200 PSNI officers, police have confirmed.

Four men have been arrested; three under the Terrorism Act and a fourth on suspicion of human trafficking and controlling prostitution.

Police said 12 properties were searched in north, south and west Belfast as well as in Lisburn, Crumlin and Newtownabbey.

One of the properties was the west Belfast offices of the Irish Republican Socialist Party (IRSP) which is the political wing of the INLA.

The IRSP described the operations as "political policing".

Police have described it as a "significant policing operation" across greater Belfast.

A PSNI spokesman said officers were supported by their colleagues from NCA and HMRC.

"It represents the latest action by the Paramilitary Crime Task Force," the spokesman added.