Police in Northern Ireland swoop on dissident republican arms dump with fully constructed bomb
The discovery is "significant and key" in saving lives
THE Police Service of Northern Ireland have discovered a significant dissident arms dump , including a fully constructed bomb in County Armagh.
The haul was discovered after a two-day search operation on the outskirts of Lurgan.
Detective Superintendent Karen Baxter said the find was "significant and key" in saving lives.
Adding: "These items were in the advanced stages of readiness and some were ready to be used."
The items were found in a hide in a wooden area near a derelict house.
Other items found include were homemade explosives, improvised mortars and launchers, a number of pipe bombs and three firearms.
The area where the hide was discovered is in a Continuity IRA stronghold.
Det Sup Baxter said it was difficult to know how long the hide had been there, but during the operation other hides and items had been found.
The security operation has disrupted the nearby railway linking Belfast and Dublin. The line between Lisburn in County Antrim and Portadown in County Armagh was closed until late Friday evening.
Policing Board chair Anne Connolly thanked the police officers and army bomb experts who were involved in the operation.
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"It's a great result for the PSNI to find these firearms and munitions and take them away from those who would have used them to cause harm in our community," she said.
This find comes after a series of arms discoveries in the country in recent months.
In May bomb making components were found near Larne in Country Antrim.
Police described that discover as one of the most significant discoveries in years.
Weapons were also found at Carnfunnock Country Park near Larne in March.
We also reported in May that MI5 had been warned of possible attacks in England and an “imminent threat” to Northern Ireland based army volunteers from dissident republicans.
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