BALKANS ARMS FOR REAL IRA 'DID REACH IRELAND'
Balkan arms for Real IRA 'did reach Ireland'
Report claims devices landed before latest find
By Staff Reporter
ARMS intended for IRA dissidents which were intercepted in Croatia last month were part of a larger haul which reached Ireland undetected, it has been claimed. The consignment of Real IRA arms smuggled safely to Irish shores included sophisticated radio frequency jumping devices which seriously hamper the security forces' ability to disantle remote-controlled bombs, according to a report in yesterday's Observer newspaper. Last week the RUC dismissed reports that the cache of rocket launchers, rifles and explosives seized by the Croatian police on July 12 had closed the Real IRA's arms route to the Balkans.
The rest of the arsenal smuggled to the Republic earlier this summer is separate from those weapons found earlier this year on a farm in Stamullen, Co Meath. High ranking RUC officers have expressed concern over the Real IRA's acquisition of frequency-jumping devices used to trigger bombs, and are in little doubt that other arms have reached the island.
One of the province's most senior RUC officers also said MI6 agents and detectives from the Metropolitan Police's anti-terrorist unit had visited the Balkans to assess the arms route. Security sources indicated it was established three years ago after splintering within the Provisional IRA.
It has been claimed the Real IRA aims to restore its credibility after the Omagh bomb killed 29 people in 1998 - by targeting British soldiers and RUC officers. Garda and RUC officers fear the dissidents will never be brought to justice for the Omagh atrocity - despite holding detailed intelligence on the gang responsible.
Since Omagh - the biggest single atrocity during the Troubles- the Real IRA has intensified its campaign in England by targeting its bombs on the transport system in an effort to create traffic and rail chaos, and even managed to disrupt last month's celebrations to mark the Queen Mother's centenary year.
Report claims devices landed before latest find
By Staff Reporter
ARMS intended for IRA dissidents which were intercepted in Croatia last month were part of a larger haul which reached Ireland undetected, it has been claimed. The consignment of Real IRA arms smuggled safely to Irish shores included sophisticated radio frequency jumping devices which seriously hamper the security forces' ability to disantle remote-controlled bombs, according to a report in yesterday's Observer newspaper. Last week the RUC dismissed reports that the cache of rocket launchers, rifles and explosives seized by the Croatian police on July 12 had closed the Real IRA's arms route to the Balkans.
The rest of the arsenal smuggled to the Republic earlier this summer is separate from those weapons found earlier this year on a farm in Stamullen, Co Meath. High ranking RUC officers have expressed concern over the Real IRA's acquisition of frequency-jumping devices used to trigger bombs, and are in little doubt that other arms have reached the island.
One of the province's most senior RUC officers also said MI6 agents and detectives from the Metropolitan Police's anti-terrorist unit had visited the Balkans to assess the arms route. Security sources indicated it was established three years ago after splintering within the Provisional IRA.
It has been claimed the Real IRA aims to restore its credibility after the Omagh bomb killed 29 people in 1998 - by targeting British soldiers and RUC officers. Garda and RUC officers fear the dissidents will never be brought to justice for the Omagh atrocity - despite holding detailed intelligence on the gang responsible.
Since Omagh - the biggest single atrocity during the Troubles- the Real IRA has intensified its campaign in England by targeting its bombs on the transport system in an effort to create traffic and rail chaos, and even managed to disrupt last month's celebrations to mark the Queen Mother's centenary year.
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0744
Published Date: 07-Aug-00
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