War on dissidents
PSNI join forces with MI5 and Gendarme to smash republican network
By Jonathan McCambridge
20 June 2006
Ten people were last night being questioned following a massive operation - involving MI5, the PSNI and French police - to smash a dissident republican terrorist conspiracy.
One of them is also being questioned in connection to the 1998 Omagh bomb following the huge operation in Counties Armagh and Fermanagh, which included 200 police officers backed up by the army.
Police confirmed that part of the operation was intended to disrupt a conspiracy by dissidents to procure a “significant quantity of arms”.
A PSNI spokesman said officers from Crime Operations branch in Northern Ireland were present in France to assist French police in conducting a related search.
“Enquiries in Europe are continuing,” he said.
Security sources have said recently they are concerned that dissident republicans are planning to stockpile weapons for a new terror campaign.
The intelligence-led operation was launched following a major investigation lasting several months led by the Crime Operations department of PSNI and MI5.
Police said the operation targeted dissident republican activity in the UK and Europe.
Eight premises were searched and 10 people arrested in connection with serious terrorist crime.
Detective Chief Superintendent Norman Baxter said: “This investigation has been ongoing for a number of months and has involved close liaison with colleagues in the Security Service and police services across Europe.
“The investigation has drawn on all branches of the PSNI’s Crime Operations Department and officers from that department have travelled to Europe to progress the investigation.
“We believe that this operation has disrupted a potential major terrorist conspiracy,” added Chief Supt Baxter.
Police said one of the 10 individuals arrested has also been arrested in connection with the 1998 Omagh bomb.
The Real IRA atrocity, the worst attack in Ulster during the Troubles, killed 29 people and unborn twins.
Sir Hugh Orde said: “This is a major operation against organised crime and dissident republican activity.”
Ian Paisley jnr, a member of the Northern Ireland Policing Board, said the authority had been given a preliminary briefing on the operation.
“I now want full details to be disclosed at the next public meeting of the Board,” the Democratic Unionist MLA added.
“I also want to congratulate police on these arrests and look forward to any convictions that follow.”
