Three charged after arms find in the North

Three men were tonight charged with a series of terrorist offences linked to the recovery of a cache of suspected dissident republican firearms in Armagh.

The suspects aged 34, 35 and 39 were arrested on Friday after police stopped a vehicle in Keady, south Armagh, close to the Irish border.

A significant amount of guns and ammunition was found inside it.

The men are due to appear in court in Newry tomorrow morning.

The men are charged with possession of firearms with intent to endanger life, preparing to commit an act of terrorism and possession of items likely to be of use to terrorists.

They were arrested as part of a security operation which also involved the Gardaí.

The seizure on Friday night was the first of three significant hauls recovered in south Armagh in two days.

Yesterday officers made two separate discoveries of suspect bomb making equipment in planned searches.

Those finds brought no further arrests and police have not provided details of the locations.

The seizures over the weekend come as police remain on high alert across the North amid fears of a terror attack to mark traditional republican Easter commemorations.

As mainstream republicans held events across the island today to remember the 1916 Easter Rising in Dublin against British rule, security forces have concerns dissidents opposed to the peace process will attempt a symbolic action.

Increased patrol and checkpoints are being mounted in a bid to thwart any act of violence.