Three held after Dundalk mortar find

Three men are being questioned by Gardaí after a ‘viable’ mortar device was found in a car they searched on the N1just north of Dundalk.

According to Gardai, the arrests were part of an ongoing operation targeting dissident republicans. The car was travelling Northbound on the N1, North of Dundalk, when it was stopped at 9.30pm last night.

A ‘mortar type device’ was discovered in the car and the Army EOD team was called out to render it safe. Two men were arrested at the scene, both in their 20s, and another man in his 30s was arrested nearby.

In a follow up operation a property was searched in Drumiskin and another man in his 30s was arrested. A number of items were seized in the search and are subject to technical examination.

The four arrested men are being detained in Drogheda, Balbriggan and Santry Garda Stations under section 30 of the Offences Against The State Act.

The operation was carried out by our Special Detective Unit assisted by local Gardaí and the car stop was made by our Emergency Response Unit.