Terrorism in Ireland: Decline in dissident republican arrests but jihadist activity on the increase

Police specialist teams supported by heavily armed TSG units conduct searches in Belfast after the murder of dissident republican Danny McClean in 2021. However, dissident arrests have declined. Picture: Alan Lewis/Photopress Belfast

Ireland recorded what is thought to be its first right-wing terrorist arrest in 2021, according to a Europol report on terrorism.

The report underlines the changing profile of terrorism-related arrests in Ireland over the last 10 years, with a significant reduction in arrests of dissident republicans and the emergence of arrests for ‘jihadist’ terrorism in recent years.