Police imagine CIRA planted bomb supposed for ‘Brexit day’ assault

Police imagine the Continuity IRA (CIRA) was liable for a bomb discovered hooked up to a lorry in County Armagh on Tuesday morning.

It’s thought the system might have been supposed for a Brexit day assault.

Police mentioned they first obtained a report about an explosive system in a lorry at Belfast docks on 31 January – the date the UK left the EU.

In a name to a media outlet, it was claimed the lorry was resulting from journey by ferry to Scotland.

A search was carried out however nothing was discovered.

On Monday, a extra detailed report helped find the system at Silverwood Industrial Property in Lurgan.

Police haven’t but given a sign of the scale of the bomb, however it’s understood the lorry didn’t depart the commercial property between the occasions of the 2 calls.

Assistant Chief Constable George Clarke mentioned the preliminary report claimed the lorry would journey “on the midnight ferry”, and added that no such ferry crossing exists.

Police mentioned they labored with a haulage firm, who personal the lorry, to go looking about 400 automobiles and find the explosive system.

It was made secure by ammunition technical officer (ATO).

Det Supt Sean Wright mentioned the “solely conclusion that we are able to draw is that when once more dissident republicans have proven a complete disregard for the group, for companies and for wider society”.

He added that “had this automobile travelled and the system had exploded at any level alongside the M1, throughout the Westlink or into the Harbour property the dangers posed don’t bear occupied with”.

Det Supt Wright appealed for data, particularly from anybody who seen any suspicious exercise at Silverwood Industrial Property between 16:00 and 22:00 on 31 January.

Seamus Leheny, from the Freight Transport Affiliation, referred to as the assault “reckless”.

“If it was viable, it might have put the motive force of the lorry and their colleagues, street customers and anybody within the neighborhood of the lorry in critical hazard. The results might have been catastrophic.”