Weapons haul found in Belfast

A ROCKET launcher and warhead have been discovered by police investigating dissident republicans in west Belfast.

The weapons were found during a search of a house, with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) revealing they were “intended to kill”.

Dissidents have been linked to a series of attempts to kill members of the security forces, including soldiers, police and a prison officer. A police spokesman said: “These weapon systems are clearly intended to kill and we should be in no doubt that the recovery of these items has saved lives.

“Detectives from PSNI serious crime branch have recovered a rocket launcher and warhead from a house.

“The search was conducted in relation to ongoing dissident republican activity.”

The suspect items have been taken away for forensic examination.

Police have been on high alert for more attacks in Northern Ireland for some time.

Earlier this month Irish police intercepted a suspected dissident republican haul of rocket launchers and explosives in Co Tipperary which were believed to be en route to Northern Ireland.