Northern Ireland

Nine arrests in cross border 'IRA' operation

The PSNI has made a series of arrests across the north
The PSNI has made a series of arrests across the north The PSNI has made a series of arrests across the north

Nine people have been arrested as part of a cross border operation investigation into the activities of the republican group known as the ‘IRA’.

They were detained in Derry, Armagh, and Tyrone during early-morning raids yesterday and were being questioned at Musgrave Police Station in Belfast last night.

The PSNI said officers made arrests “in connection with an ongoing investigation into the activities of the New IRA”.

Gardaí said they carried out “searches in support of an operation led by the Police Service of Northern Ireland”.

Gardaí said the searches were “carried out at locations in Dublin, Laois, Cork and Kerry and are part of ongoing operations to combat the activities of the New IRA”.

The searches were carried out by members of the Special Detective Unit assisted by local gardaí and regional armed support units.

Last night hardline political party Saoradh said several members were among those detained.

Spokesman Paddy Gallagher said: “Saoradh is not a proscribed organisation. We have as our means political agitation, mobilisation and grassroots activism.

“Since our formation in 2016 we have grown and we continue to grow. “We have four public offices with more planned, each one open and accessible to the public.”