NEW IRA ‘DIGGING UP OLD WEAPONS’
Fears blast at Brexit border court first salvo row ‘radicalised’ in new campaign some nationalists
blood in the Troubles but have been radicalised by Brexit.
“They are hunting old weapons dumps. There are a dozen around and along the border – some empty, others we left undisturbed and monitor.
“They are looking for Semtex and machine guns. They could become a bigger threat to the UK and Ireland than ISIS. The fear is last Saturday’s attack was the start of a longer campaign.”
The Provisional IRA declared a ceasefire in 1994 and finished decommissioning in 2005. Since Last week’s blast at court. Right, Caileigh then, the PSNI has seized 12 assault rifles linked to the group and 17kg of Semtex – but more could be hidden.
A republican source said the New IRA is also trying to find old Official IRA dumps in the North. He added that as the region’s Remain vote was 56%, dissidents think they have a mandate.
Since the vote, the EU and British government have insisted a hard border will not return on the island and the PM’S deal with Brussels includes the backstop – but hardline Brexiteers
want no deal, which could mean a hard border. This stalemate threatens the relative peace since the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.
Some 3,600 died in the Troubles and there are signs of violence returning.
Of 205 terrorist attacks in the EU in 2017, 88 were in Northern Ireland.
Last Saturday, a pizza van hijacked in the Bogside area of Derry was used in the court bombing.
A local council motion condemning it was passed by just a single vote after Sinn Fein and independent republicans refused to back it.
The PSNI has already called for reinforcements in the event of a hard border.
The former republican commander said: “There is a widespread acceptance handling of Brexit has been a failure.
“So nothing will alter the mindset of those committed to changing the status of the North by violence. Another betrayal over the backstop will reinforce belief Westminster can’t be trusted.” Among shoppers in Derry telling of concerns was Caileigh Duddy, 25. She said: “It is unthinkable anyone would want to go back to how it was. Violence has no place here.
“My brother crosses the border every day for work and I cross it every week to see my nephew. I don’t think politicians have given it any thought at all.”
news@irishmirror.ie Police at bomb scene last night