Northern Ireland

Two men arrested in Dublin over car-bomb attack on PSNI officer

A bomb was discovered under the car of a senior police officer at Shandon Park Golf Club in east Belfast. Picture by Ann McManus
A bomb was discovered under the car of a senior police officer at Shandon Park Golf Club in east Belfast. Picture by Ann McManus A bomb was discovered under the car of a senior police officer at Shandon Park Golf Club in east Belfast. Picture by Ann McManus

Two men have been arrested in Dublin over the attempted murder of a police officer in Belfast.

A bomb was found under the car of a serving police officer at Shandon Park Golf Club in east Belfast in June.

The device was declared to be a "viable improvised explosive device".

The murder attempt happened a short distance from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) headquarters.

Dissident republican group, the New IRA, claimed responsibility for the attack at the time.

This morning two men aged in their 40s were arrested in Dublin by Garda detectives as part of a cross-border investigation into the incident. The men are being detained under Section 30 of Offences Against the State Act at a Dublin Garda station.

A cross-border investigation was launched after it was established that one of the getaway cars used by whoever planted the bomb was sourced in Dublin.

PSNI Detective Superintendent Sean Wright said the arrests "demonstrates the excellent working relationship" between the PSNI and An Garda Síochána.

"The arrests should send a clear message to those involved in terrorist activity that the border does not provide an escape route," he said.

"Our two police services work collaboratively on a daily basis, sharing knowledge and information, to ensure that there is no hiding place for criminals or terrorists."