Bomb-making equipment found as woman detained

Gardai have detained a woman at an address in Dublin and uncovered bomb-making components in a sweep against dissident republican paramilitary group activities.

The latest arrest was made in the centre of the capital hours after three men had been held in a car stopped by police near the of Dundalk, Co Louth.

In that move, too, Gardai discovered equipment for manufacturing bombs, including explosives.

While arresting of the woman, who is in her 30s, police found timing power units. The woman is now being questioned in a Dublin Garda station.

Two of the men detained in Co Louth, both from Dublin, were also being quizzed at a Garda station. The third man, from Dundalk, was being questioned by detectives in Ashbourne, Co Meath.

All four were being held under the Offences Against the State Act anti-terror legislation that permits suspects to he kept in custody for up to 72 hours before being either charged or released.

The Gardai activity was believed to be directed at the Real IRA, which has been responsible for a number of bombings in Britain and Northern Ireland, and carried out the 1998 mass murder bomb attack on Omagh, Co Tyrone.