Sinn Fein criticise PSNI over anti-terror raids

Sinn Fein sharply criticised the Police Service of Northern Ireland today after anti-terrorist officers raided a number of homes in west Belfast.

It is understood several computers and discs were seized during searches in the staunchly nationalist Andersonstown and Lenadoon areas.

Bairbre de Brun, one of the party's west Belfast MLAs, said she had visited a number of the homes which were raided last night. She said: "I would question the focus of the PSNI in conducting these searches within nationalist west Belfast given the heightened levels of loyalist activity and loyalist attacks at this time.

"One of the people whose home was raided was recently advised that his details were in the hands of loyalist paramilitaries. It is of deep concern that the PSNI have chosen to prioritise and raid the home of a person living under the threat of a loyalist attack."

The police said little today about what was seized during the operation. A spokeswoman said: "Some searches were carried out and it is understood items were seized. The searches were carried out under terrorist legislation."

The security operation comes as a number of people from west Belfast are facing charges linked to an alleged IRA spy ring at Stormont. The Sinn Fein office at Stormont and many homes in west Belfast were raided during the police investigation into these allegations.