Police swoop on Belfast addresses after arrest

British police said tonight that a number of addresses in Northern Ireland and in the UK were being searched after the arrest of a man at Manchester Airport.

The man was arrested by officers from Greater Manchester Police in connection with the discovery of an explosive device under a car in Bolton on December 17 last year.

The device was found under the car of Jackie Thompson, a former associate of Johnny “Mad Dog” Adair, the former Ulster loyalist paramilitary leader.

A spokeswoman for Greater Manchester Police said: “The man is currently being held at a police station in Greater Manchester.

“A number of premises are currently being searched at both UK and Northern Ireland addresses.”