Gardaí examining if 'pre-planning' for London attacks occurred in Ireland

The Garda’s security service is examining whether any “pre-planning” for the London attacks occurred in Ireland following claims from a former Muslim radical that a second of the three terrorists had stayed here.

The Irish convert, who spoke at a press conference organised by a prominent Dublin Imam last Friday, also claimed there were 150 extremists living here.

While counter-terrorism officers stress they do not yet know if, or to what extent, the claims are accurate, sources said they were taking them “very seriously”.