ROGUE REPUBLICANS THREATEN BOMBINGS
Rogue republicans threaten bombings
New CIRCA campaign aimed at the military
SECURITY chiefs in Northern Ireland and Britain have warned that a new terror offensive is about to be launched by republican militants.
Continuity IRA, which has been responsible for two bomb attacks in Northern Ireland, is understood to have established two highly-trained units with orders to strike at military targets early in 1999.
Police in north Belfast, where one of breakaway units is based, have already returned to wearing flak jackets and ordered to travel in armoured vehicles.
According to intelligence sources CIRA has successfully recruited hardline defectors from the Provisionals and also the Real IRA, which was forced to disband after the Omagh atrocity last August.
Leading members of the Real IRA had been warned by the Provisionals that if they did not disband they would be murdered.
Among CIRA's new recruits are explosives experts and hardened terrorists who have access to supplies of explosives and weapons.
The group, based in Co Louth, has not yet established a significant armoury, but police on both sides of the border believe they could attract more recruits and weapons supplies through the launch of an effective strike against security forces in Northern Ireland and commercial targets in Britain.
It is believed members of CIRA who disappeared from regular haunts in the Republic have secretly moved to Britain where they are attempting to establish the organisation's first active service unit outside Ireland.
Until recently they were training and experimenting with new bombing devices in border areas around Hackballs Cross where up to 10 explosions were reported early in December.
It has already bombed two hotels in Enniskillen where guests in both miraculously escaped death and injury.
A series of recent armed robberies in the Republic have been attributed to CIRA, but yesterday Gardai sources declined to comment on reports that three men arrested during raids on homes in Limerick on Saturday were linked to the group.
Weapons and ammunition were seized during the raids.
Because of its recruitment of hardliners from other republican factions, including dissident explosives experts from the Provisionals, security chiefs fear that CIRA could become the most serious threat to the peace process since the Good Friday Agreement.
New CIRCA campaign aimed at the military
SECURITY chiefs in Northern Ireland and Britain have warned that a new terror offensive is about to be launched by republican militants.
Continuity IRA, which has been responsible for two bomb attacks in Northern Ireland, is understood to have established two highly-trained units with orders to strike at military targets early in 1999.
Police in north Belfast, where one of breakaway units is based, have already returned to wearing flak jackets and ordered to travel in armoured vehicles.
According to intelligence sources CIRA has successfully recruited hardline defectors from the Provisionals and also the Real IRA, which was forced to disband after the Omagh atrocity last August.
Leading members of the Real IRA had been warned by the Provisionals that if they did not disband they would be murdered.
Among CIRA's new recruits are explosives experts and hardened terrorists who have access to supplies of explosives and weapons.
The group, based in Co Louth, has not yet established a significant armoury, but police on both sides of the border believe they could attract more recruits and weapons supplies through the launch of an effective strike against security forces in Northern Ireland and commercial targets in Britain.
It is believed members of CIRA who disappeared from regular haunts in the Republic have secretly moved to Britain where they are attempting to establish the organisation's first active service unit outside Ireland.
Until recently they were training and experimenting with new bombing devices in border areas around Hackballs Cross where up to 10 explosions were reported early in December.
It has already bombed two hotels in Enniskillen where guests in both miraculously escaped death and injury.
A series of recent armed robberies in the Republic have been attributed to CIRA, but yesterday Gardai sources declined to comment on reports that three men arrested during raids on homes in Limerick on Saturday were linked to the group.
Weapons and ammunition were seized during the raids.
Because of its recruitment of hardliners from other republican factions, including dissident explosives experts from the Provisionals, security chiefs fear that CIRA could become the most serious threat to the peace process since the Good Friday Agreement.
Further Information
Publisher: NEWS LETTER
Ref: NL/172
Published Date: 04-Jan-99
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