Gardaí target Irish-based ‘Dirty Dozen’ as jihad terror threat rises
A GROUP of 12 Irishbased jihadis have been identified and are being ‘thoroughly profiled’ to determine if they are plotting a terror atrocity similar to the Manchester attack.
The Irish Daily Mail can reveal that gardaí have identified a dozen Muslim extremists, most of whom are not Irish-born.
An Garda Síochána began an ‘immediate review’ of Irishbased jihadis ‘within hours’ of the Manchester terror attack on Monday night, senior sources say.
As a consequence, the force identified 12 individuals it has now placed on an ‘unofficial watch list’ because of their strong links to international terror groups, mainly Isis and Al-Qaeda.
Gardaí, in conjunction with UK police and the CIA, are also now seeking to establish if the terrorists involved in the Manchester attack are linked to Irish-based jihadis.
Senior sources say the ‘jihadis of interest’ here range in significance from harbouring and fundraising for international terrorists, to being of ‘a more serious calibre’.
One particular individual, who international security agencies informed gardaí about in recent years, is currently fighting deportation.
This naturalised Irish citizen is a social welfare recipient based in Leinster and operates an extensive financial network on behalf of Muslim extremists.
This man had close links to Al-Qaeda leader Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi who was responsible for several suicide bombings and beheadings in Iraq before he was killed.
Jihadi fanatics are monitored by the Counter Terrorism International Unit, set up within the Crime and Security section of the gardaí in 2014.
This unit is specifically tasked with targeting Islamist terror support groups based in Ireland.
However, several Garda units are involved in monitoring those individuals gardaí are concerned about.
Since Tuesday, there have been increased patrols by the Armed Support Unit (ASU) around Dublin and Cork airport, as well as the ports. The Special Detective Unit (SDU) is also now in close collaboration with local garda units over its ‘local monitoring’ of well-known Muslim extremists. Sources also say there are ‘upwards of 50’ suspected jihadis who have travelled from Ireland to fight in various conflicts since 2010.
Sources say the core group of 12 extremists have harboured jihadis who have travelled here from Europe and Britain and sourced fake travel documents for them to travel out again.
It can be difficult for many jihadis to travel directly from Britain and mainland Europe to Turkey, and from there to Syria, so Ireland is sometimes used as a ‘transit hub’, a senior source explained.
A well-placed source added: ‘Unlike the UK, Ireland is not actively or directly involved in any of these conflicts.
‘This gives us a sense of protection but in many ways it doesn’t. We could be seen as an easy target. We are certainly used as a transit hub.
‘It would be easier for them to carry out a major atrocity here than the likes of Manchester.
‘But then they would possibly blow their cover of using Ireland as a transit hub. But what some of these terrorists are willing and capable of doing, from what we’ve seen at that concert, shows they have no limits. They will sink to any low. Nothing is off limits. Targeting children at a pop concert proved that.
‘So we should never feel we could not be a legitimate target to people who are prepared to murder kids.’
The Irish Daily Mail understands that gardaí are now examining, and increasing monitoring, of secret prayer meetings staged by Muslim extremists around Ireland.
Local Garda units, mainly in Dublin, became aware of this practise two years ago and informed the national units.
Now, in light of the current climate, monitoring of these secret prayer meetings has already increased. Some of these meetings are being held in rented warehouses in industrial estates in Dublin.
‘The major concern about these meetings are, if it is not for radicalisation, why are they not being held in mosques?
‘Also some of those attending are people who are a cause for concern,’ said a source.
The force is also now ‘reestablishing’ its relationship with Muslim leaders.
An Garda Síochána considers that it has a ‘very positive relationship’ with Muslim leaders in Ireland.
‘But in light of what’s happened there will of course now be more meetings between gardaí and these leaders.
‘We have learned so much from them and vice versa.’
Meanwhile, Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald chaired a meeting of ministers and senior gardaí and Army officials yesterday to review the State’s arrangements in the event of a terrorist attack here.
Ireland is keeping the threat from international terrorism under ‘continuous review’, Minister Fitzgerald has said, adding that an attack here was possible but unlikely.
Security chiefs said they have no specific information to raise Ireland’s threat level.
But Ms Fitzgerald has warned the public to remain ‘sensibly vigilant’.
‘Ministers were advised that the Garda authorities are working closely with event organisers to ensure that appropriate safety and security measures are in place at forthcoming events in the summer period,’ she said.
‘The gardaí are asking the public to remain vigilant.’
Minister Fitzgerald added that people owe it to terror victims to live their daily lives as fully and freely as possible.
‘As well as causing death and destruction, the aim of international terrorism is to change our way of life, through creating fear. We cannot allow that to happen,’ she said.
Fighting deportation Secret prayer meetings