Two arrested in Laois for suspected terrorism

TWO men have been arrested in Laois on suspicion of involvement in cross-border terrorism.

Gardaí confirmed today that the pair, aged in their 40s and 30s, were arrested after a vehicle was stopped and searched in the county yesterday.

The men are currently detained for questioning at garda stations in the midlands, under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act 1939.

They can be detained for up to 48 hours, with the possibility of a further extension.

Gardaí in Laois seized a number of items, after stopping the vehicle on Wednesday 5 November. It is understood that a Tricolour, pipe ends and sealant, hatchets, knives, cable ties and a bulletproof vest were among the items discovered.

The planned vehicle stop in Laois followed an incident at a house in Annalong, Co Down, where Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) officers, working with gardaí, found suspect devices. Local residents were evacuated and ammunition technical officers (ATOs) were called to the scene.

The PSNI said officers from the Serious Crime Branch initially discovered a number of suspicious objects inside the house, before uncovering four suspect devices in the garden.

ATOs were called to examine the devices and local residents were evacuated from their homes as part of a public safety operation. The residents have since returned to their homes.

The search at the house was carried out under the Terrorism Act and the suspected devices and items, including laptops, were removed for further examination.

The investigation is being led by the Garda Special Detective Unit.

In a statement this afternoon, gardaí said: ‘An Garda Síochána are working closely with the Police Service of Northern Ireland on this investigation. During searches carried out in Northern Ireland a number of items, including electronic devices, were removed for further examination.

Assistant Commissioner Michael McElgunn, Garda National Crime and Security Intelligence Service said: "An Garda Síochána is committed to identifying, assessing and countering security threats to our communities.

“This ongoing operation demonstrates the close working relationships An Garda Síochána has with our colleagues in the Police Service of Northern Ireland to investigate and interdict threats across the island of Ireland, keeping people safe.”