Man held in connection with attack on MI5 HQ

A man was arrested today by detectives investigating a dissident republican car bomb attack on MI5’s headquarters in the North.

The 34-year-old was detained in the Dunmurry area of west Belfast this morning.

On April 12 the so-called Real IRA forced a taxi driver to ferry the bomb to Palace Barracks in Holywood, Co Down, a military base which includes the MI5 facility.

An elderly man suffered minor injuries when the device exploded while the area around the barracks was being evacuated.

The bombing was timed to coincide with the devolution of policing and justice powers from Westminster to the Northern Ireland Assembly.

The transfer of the powers handed political responsibility for law and order to Stormont politicians, though national security responsibilities remain under the control of central government.

Police said the man was being questioned at Antrim Serious Crime Suite.