Semtex, Guns And Ammunition Found In West Belfast

The security operation also uncovered two detonators, two handguns and 200 rounds of ammunition.

“This has been described as part of an investigation into ‘violent dissident terrorist activity, ‘ but I note that the haul included more than half a kilogram of Semtex”.

“Officers from PSNI Serious Crime Branch, investigating an arms and explosives find in West Belfast on September 18, assisted by officers from North East Counter Terrorism Unit and Northumbria Police, have arrested a 45-year-old man this morning in Sunderland”, he said.

A 21-year-old woman and a man, aged 29, are being questioned in the PSNI’s Serious Crime Suite in Antrim after they were detained in the west of the city on Sunday.

Police say there was, and remains, no risk to the people of Sunderland following the arrest.

Nearly 500g of Semtex was found during the raid on the property on the Ballymurphy Road on Thursday night.

‘We appreciate the clearance operation which was needed to ensure everyone’s safety through the night disrupted many people’s lives, requiring people to leave their homes and inconveniencing road users.

Sinn Fein’s Martin McGuinness said he was pleased that the police were “doing their job in protecting the community”.

The discovery of the Semtex will raise questions from unionist politicians about whether the Czech-made explosive came from a cache of the PIRA’s arsenal that was meant to have been decommissioned a decade ago.

“From our perspective, what we have to do is continue to support the Garda and the PSNI in the good work that they are doing”, he added.