Gardaí to crack down on Islamic extremism

GARDA bosses are to launch a major initiative this year to identify and combat the threat posed by domestic Islamic extremists.

The Garda Policing Plan for 2006 lists radical Islamic extremism as a key security concern for the coming year. It is the first time that Islamic extremism has featured as a key area in policing plans.

The move follows ongoing speculation regarding the threat posed to Ireland by Islamic terrorism and uncertainty as to the level of militancy in the country.