THREE men were arrested during dramatic scenes in west Belfast by police investigating "criminality linked to the INLA".
Police said officers from the Paramilitary Crime Task Force (PCTF) stopped a car in the Northumberland Street area at around 9am on Saturday, resulting in the recovery of a gun and ammunition.
Two men, aged 23 and 27, were arrested at the scene on suspicion of conspiracy to commit robbery, encouraging or assisting an offence and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.
A short time later a 30-year-old man was also arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit robbery and encouraging or assisting an offence.
Footage widely shared on social media showed a plain-clothed police officer pointing a rifle at a man as he is held on the ground outside the Twin Spires complex at the junction of the lower Falls Road and Northumberland Street.
Armed police officers were also captured making an arrest in the Glen Road area of west Belfast.
Detective Inspector Hamilton said on Saturday: "I am pleased to report the seizure of this firearm and ammunition to the people of west Belfast and indeed the wider community.
"We have removed the ability of these criminals, hiding behind the guise of paramilitarism, to terrorise members of the community and our city is undoubtedly a safer place today as a result.
"Today’s search provides further evidence to the community that; we care about what is important to them, we will listen to what they tell us and we act on the information they provide us.
"I would therefore encourage members of the community who may have information that could assist our efforts to tackle criminality linked to paramilitaries, to please get in touch."
He added: "Those who involve themselves in this kind of crime should be under no illusion as to our commitment and determination to identify, pursue and arrest anyone suspected of involvement in criminality and see them convicted for their crimes."
In a statement posted on Twitter on Saturday, the Irish Republican Socialist Party denied that those arrested had links to the republican socialist movement
"The IRSP can confirm that none of the three have connections to the RSM, nor have they ever had any relationship with the RSM," it said.
"We challenge the PCTF to substantiate their claims."
