NINE PEOPLE have been arrested following an investigation by both the Police Service of Northern Ireland and An Garda Síochána targeting the 'New IRA'.
The cross-border operation saw Gardaí conduct searches in six location across counties Dublin, Laois, Cork and Kerry in support of the PSNI, but there were no arrests made on this side of the border.
In the north however, a total of nine people-- seven men and two women-- were arrested under the Terrorism Act ad remain in custody.
A statement from the PSNI issued yesterday evening confirmed the operation and arrests, stating:
"Officers from the Police Service of Northern Ireland have made a number of arrests under the Terrorism Act across Northern Ireland today [Tuesday] in connection with an ongoing investigation into the activities of the New IRA."
Crime Operations Assistant Chief Constable Barbara Gray said: “I can confirm that nine people were arrested on Tuesday under the Terrorism Act in connection with an ongoing investigation into the activities of the New IRA. All nine remain in custody.
“The 7 men and 2 women, aged between 26 and 50 years, were arrested as part of Operation Arbacia.
"They are currently in Musgrave Serious Crime Suite where they continue to be questioned on suspicion of a wide range of terrorist activity."
The New IRA are suspected of being behind a bomb discovered in Derry in June of last year, and the organisation also took responsibility for the killing of journalist Lyra McKee in April 2019.
Senior members of far-left political party Saoradh-- which is believed to be the political wing of the New IRA-- confirmed that a number of their members have been arrested, according to The Irish Examiner.
