1,000lb dissident republican bomb, the biggest ever, found in Northern Ireland
Van loaded with twice the amount of explosives used in Omagh is discovered on A1 between Belfast and Dublin
The biggest bomb constructed by republican dissidents has been found in Northern Ireland, police admitted today.
A lorry packed with 1,000lb – about 500kg – of explosives was found under a flyover in south Armagh, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said.
It was on the A1 Newry road at Cloghogue – part of the upgraded carriageway between Dublin and Belfast.
The Guardian has learned that this week motorists had been driving past the van unaware it had a huge bomb inside. This device is twice the size of the bomb that devastated the town centre of Omagh in 1998, killing 29 men, women and children.
Technical officers from the British army spent yesterday examining the lorry while the area was forensically examined. A PSNI spokeswoman said she was unable to confirm the contents of the van and the situation was ongoing.
The security operation led to extensive traffic delays. The M1 was closed and traffic diverted onto the old N1 Dublin to Newry road. Motorists heading north reported long tailbacks and delays of almost an hour.
Gardai, the police of the Republic of Ireland, were notified and a spokesperson said they were assisting with traffic management on the southern side of the border.
The PSNI said this month that it was concerned dissidents might attempt a spectacular attack in a town centre over Christmas and the new year. Business owners, shoppers and retail parks were warned to be on their guard, particularly during very busy times. The security operation around the border crossing point seriously disrupted cross-border trade and put off hundreds of southern shoppers seeking a bargain in northern towns such as Newry and Banbridge.
