‘No specific threat’ from terrorist groups
JUSTICE Minister Charlie Flanagan insists there is no “specific threat” to Ireland from terrorists, despite revelations of a secret Islamic State (Isil) terror cell being monitored by gardaí in the west of the country.
Mr Flanagan said he would be seeking a report from interim Garda Commissioner Dónall Ó Cualáin on the eight-man “organised terror cell”, headed by two Chechen brothers.
“Our gardaí engage at the highest level with EU colleagues in sharing intelligence,” said Mr Flanagan.
“We have permanent representatives in Paris and The Hague, so I’m satisfied that the level of intelligence is good.
“Of course Ireland is not immune from terrorist activity, but we don’t have any specific evidence of any threat to our people or society.
“But we very much keep matters under review and, on the issue in the west, I will be seeking a report from the Garda Commissioner in the next couple of days.”
Senior sources have revealed that gardaí have been monitoring the cell’s activities for a number of months.
The suspected Islamic extremists, who live in various rural locations, are being investigated for using An Post and courier services for “dummy runs” to send items to the wartorn Middle East.
The jihadi group is also suspected of being involved in fundraising and electronically transferring funds from Ireland to extremist organisations.
“The belief is that members of this network are deeply committed to the Islamic State and they are organised,” said a source.
“It has been established that they have attempted to send small internal parts of computers to locations such as Chechnya, Iraq and Syria.