Four arrested in security clampdown

A suspected terror chief and three young men were arrested yesterday in a massive security operation targeting dissident republicans. Specialist anti-terrorism squads and elite armed units, directed by Garda Intelligence, went to 20 addresses in counties Louth, Dublin and Wexford and arrested four suspects.

The main suspect, a man in his 60s, was arrested on suspicion of directing terrorism, while the three others, in their 20s, were arrested on suspicion of membership of an illegal organisation and possession of explosives.

Gardaí located a suspect device in Courtown, Co Wexford. They cordoned the area off and called in an Army explosive ordnance device team.