Two men held as gardaí foil pipe bomb attack in suburb

A PIPE bomb left under a van outside a house in north Dublin was a sophisticated device capable of causing serious injury or death, if it exploded, gardaí said last night.

Two men allegedly involved in planting the device were being questioned last night by detectives. They are being questioned about the activities of the dissident republican group, the Continuity IRA.

The pair were picked up close to the scene after neighbours rang the gardaí and reported suspicious activity. Twelve homes at Belcamp Crescent, Clonshaugh, including that of the intended target, were evacuated as army bomb disposal experts were called in. In an operation lasting nearly three hours, a probe was sent in to check the device before it was disabled using a special water jet.

The device was then taken away for forensic examination. A senior garda confirmed last night the bomb was a live explosive device and of a sophisticated type.

Gardaí were last night investigating a motive for the aborted attack but believe it may be linked to the extortion activities of the dissident republicans.

One neighbour of the intended target described how they were woken shortly after 12.30am by a loud banging on the door. Gardaí told them to leave immediately.

“At first we didn’t know what was going on. There was nowhere organised for us to go so we sat in our cars.

“Nobody told us that the operation was over but the army van left and it was obvious we could go home,” said the neighbour.

The two men, one from Palmerstown, the other from Ballyfermot, were arrested under Section 30 of the Offences Against The State Act and can be held without charge for a maximum 72 hours. A garda spokesman said: “The discovery was made shortly before 1am and an Army EOD team was immediately called to the scene. A number of residents in the area were evacuated during the security operation.

“The men were arrested in the vicinity of the incident and are now being held at Coolock and Santry Garda Stations.”

Gardaí later confirmed they were also questioned about the activities of the CIRA. The group, though small, remains active. Several members have been jailed for various activities, including bomb making.