Five arrested in Louth in dissident-republican swoop

Five people have been arrested in Co Louth as part of a major garda investigation targeting dissident republicans.

Reports that shots were fired at detectives during an overnight operation in the Omeath area of Co Louth, are being investigated.

The five were travelling in three cars when they were stopped and detained.

They are being held under section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act at garda stations in Drogheda, Dundalk and Balbriggan.

A Garda spokesman said: “These arrests are part of an operation targeting dissident republican activity. The operation is very much ongoing at the moment.”

Two men are being held at Dundalk garda station, two at Drogheda garda station and one man is being questioned at Balbriggan garda station, in north Dublin.

The cars seized in the operation are being forensically examined.

It is believed a possible car bomb - which was en route to Oldbridge House near Drogheda - was intercepted at a location in the county. Gardaí could not confirm that report this morning.