 There are reports that two out of the three men were arrested in the North yards from the border yesterday after a major cross- border security operation aimed at dissident republicans are from Monaghan. There are said to be from Castleblayney and Monaghan towns. The operation came as security forces in Northern Ireland were placed on full alert amid fears of a dissident republican Easter offensive.
Explosives and bomb-making components, as well as handguns and rifles, were also uncovered after a joint PSNI/ garda surveillance operation along the Monaghan/Armagh border.
Three men, two from the Republic, were arrested in the operation at Carna, near Keady in South Armagh, about 300 yards from the border.
The bomb-making equipment and weapons were found in the boot of a car at a remote Co Armagh farmhouse at approximately 5 pm yesterday evening.
Heavily armed PSNI officers flooded the area, while gardai from the armed support unit carrying Heckler and Koch MP7 submachine guns sealed the border from the Republic.
The PSNI described the arrests as "significant".
All those arrested were taken to Armagh for questioning by senior PSNI officers last night.
A major search operation was continuing in the area last night. Police said the threat in Northern Ireland remains "severe" and urged vigilance over Easter.
Since the murder of 25-year-old PSNI constable Ronan Kerr three weeks ago, police have warned that dissidents are continuing to target its officers.
"Dissident terrorist groups are continuing to identify officers and target them with the single objective of killing them," a spokesman said.
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Saturday, 23 April 2011 14:32