Five men have been arrested by detectives investigating the murder of PSNI Constable Ronan Kerr on April 2nd. The men were arrested this morning during a series of searches in Countys Antrim, Derry and Tyrone. A police spokesman said the searches in Coalisland, Ballyronan, Bellaghy and Toome are on-going.
Constable Kerr (25) was killed when a dissident republican bomb exploded as he got into his car at his home in Omagh, Co Tyrone.
The arrests come on the back of a series of successful operations against the dissidents by both the Gardai and the PSNI, however, the dissidents remain a significant threat and are presently training children as young as 14 years old in bomb making techniques. Some of the Provisional IRA’s most seasoned bomb makers are now members of the ‘dissident’ groupings.
The ‘dissidents’ are determined to carry-out a spectacular in the coming weeks and are directing their energies on three areas of technical expertise, Mortar Bombs, Booby Trap bombs and the traditional car bomb. The majority of bombs are made in the Irish Republic in north Louth, Donegal and rural parts of Monaghan and due to the inexperience of many now handling bombs it is only a matter of time before there are large scale civilian casualties.
If you have any information about the criminal activities of the ‘dissident’ or provisional IRA groupings, Please save lives and contact the Gardai or PSNI immediately.
