Post by Editor on Mar 4, 2013 8:35:16 GMT
BREAKING NEWS: Hundreds of people evacuated from their homes after police foil planned terror attack in Northern Ireland
Police intercepted van carrying at least three mortars in Londonderry
Roof of van said to have been removed and mortars mounted on back
Sparked huge security operation in Letterkenny Road area
Around 100 properties evacuated as bomb disposal experts called in
Two men, aged 35 and 37 arrested following discovery
Third man, 37, arrested today after search of property in the city, PSNI say
By KERRY MCDERMOTT
PUBLISHED: 07:03, 4 March 2013 | UPDATED: 07:41, 4 March 2013
Three men have been arrested in Northern Ireland after police foiled a major terror attack linked to Republican dissidents.
Officers intercepted a van understood to have been carrying three mortars in the Letterkenny Road area of Londonderry last night, prompting the evacuation of around 100 homes in the area as army bomb disposal experts were scrambled to the scene.
The roof of the van is believed to have been removed and the mortars mounted on the back in preparation for an imminent attack.
Bomb alert: An army robot beams light into the white van intercepted by police in a foiled terror attack in Londonderry
According to a report on Sky News the weapons were primed and ready for launch.
Two men, aged 35 and 37, were arrested after the van was intercepted by officers. A 37-year-old man was detained today following a search of a property in the city, police said.
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Ex-police chief and his lover found shot dead in porch of their home 'after neighbours spotted bloodstains on window'
A PSNI spokesman said: 'Police are currently dealing with a security alert in the Letterkenny Road area of Londonderry, following the discovery of a suspicious object in a vehicle.
'Approximately 100 homes have been evacuated and army technical officers are at the scene.
'Two males aged 35 and 37 have been arrested and taken to Antrim serious crime suite where they are helping with inquiries.
'Detectives from PSNI serious crime branch are dealing with the incident and are linking it with dissident republican activity.'
The vehicle was stopped at the junction of Letterkenny Road and Lone Moor Road in the west of Londonderry last night.
Evacuation: Around 100 properties in the area were evacuated after the suspicious objects were discovered on the back of a van
Emergency: Letterkenny Road residents were evacuated to the Brooke Park Centre in the wake of the major bomb alert
The incident comes just days before a by-election to replace Martin McGuinness as MP for Mid Ulster, after Stormont's Deputy First Minister resigned his Westminster seat as part of his party's policy to end double-jobbing in politics.
The four contenders for Thursday's by-election are Sinn Fein Assembly Member Francie Molloy, independent Nigel Lutton, the Social Democratic and Labour Party's Patsy McGlone and Eric Bullick of the cross-community Alliance Party.
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2287702/Hundreds-people-evacuated-homes-police-foil-planned-terror-attack-Northern-Ireland.html
Police intercepted van carrying at least three mortars in Londonderry
Roof of van said to have been removed and mortars mounted on back
Sparked huge security operation in Letterkenny Road area
Around 100 properties evacuated as bomb disposal experts called in
Two men, aged 35 and 37 arrested following discovery
Third man, 37, arrested today after search of property in the city, PSNI say
By KERRY MCDERMOTT
PUBLISHED: 07:03, 4 March 2013 | UPDATED: 07:41, 4 March 2013
Three men have been arrested in Northern Ireland after police foiled a major terror attack linked to Republican dissidents.
Officers intercepted a van understood to have been carrying three mortars in the Letterkenny Road area of Londonderry last night, prompting the evacuation of around 100 homes in the area as army bomb disposal experts were scrambled to the scene.
The roof of the van is believed to have been removed and the mortars mounted on the back in preparation for an imminent attack.
Bomb alert: An army robot beams light into the white van intercepted by police in a foiled terror attack in Londonderry
According to a report on Sky News the weapons were primed and ready for launch.
Two men, aged 35 and 37, were arrested after the van was intercepted by officers. A 37-year-old man was detained today following a search of a property in the city, police said.
More...
Rocket launcher and warhead 'intended to kill' found in house by police investigating dissident republicans in Northern Ireland
Ex-police chief and his lover found shot dead in porch of their home 'after neighbours spotted bloodstains on window'
A PSNI spokesman said: 'Police are currently dealing with a security alert in the Letterkenny Road area of Londonderry, following the discovery of a suspicious object in a vehicle.
'Approximately 100 homes have been evacuated and army technical officers are at the scene.
'Two males aged 35 and 37 have been arrested and taken to Antrim serious crime suite where they are helping with inquiries.
'Detectives from PSNI serious crime branch are dealing with the incident and are linking it with dissident republican activity.'
The vehicle was stopped at the junction of Letterkenny Road and Lone Moor Road in the west of Londonderry last night.
Evacuation: Around 100 properties in the area were evacuated after the suspicious objects were discovered on the back of a van
Emergency: Letterkenny Road residents were evacuated to the Brooke Park Centre in the wake of the major bomb alert
The incident comes just days before a by-election to replace Martin McGuinness as MP for Mid Ulster, after Stormont's Deputy First Minister resigned his Westminster seat as part of his party's policy to end double-jobbing in politics.
The four contenders for Thursday's by-election are Sinn Fein Assembly Member Francie Molloy, independent Nigel Lutton, the Social Democratic and Labour Party's Patsy McGlone and Eric Bullick of the cross-community Alliance Party.
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2287702/Hundreds-people-evacuated-homes-police-foil-planned-terror-attack-Northern-Ireland.html
