A woman in her 20s has been charged in connection with a fully assembled dissident republican bomb intercepted by Gardaí near the Irish border, with the device described by Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly as one of the most sophisticated seized in recent years.
A woman has appeared in court after being charged in connection with a suspected dissident republican bomb seized by Gardaí near the Irish border on Friday. The accused, in her 20s, was driving the car in which the device was found when it was intercepted. She is due to appear before a special sitting of Trim District Court in Co Meath on Friday evening.
A significant find
Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly described the intercepted device as “extremely significant,” saying it was fully assembled and ready for use. Investigators said the bomb contained military-grade explosives, a detonator and a power unit, making it considerably more sophisticated than recent dissident republican devices uncovered by police. Gardaí believe the bomb was being transported into Northern Ireland and was intended for use as an under-vehicle explosive device.
The investigation
A man in his 40s was also arrested as part of the operation and remains under investigation in connection with the suspected plot. The operation was led by the Garda Special Detective Unit, with support from the Irish Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal team, which made the device safe before it was removed for forensic examination.
Irish and UK authorities, including the PSNI, are working together on the investigation as part of ongoing cross-border counter-terrorism cooperation.
Continuing security concerns
Commissioner Kelly warned that young people continue to be radicalised by dissident republican groups, describing the threat posed by such organisations as an ongoing security concern despite the Good Friday Agreement.
