Raid 'foiled attack by dissidents'

Two men were arrested and component parts of a potentially significant explosive device were seized in Saturday night's planned raid by gardai in Dundalk, Co Louth.

Among the items discovered at the outbuilding on the Old Newry Road in the town's Mount Pleasant area were two large modified gas cylinders fixed on to a trailer.

It is believed the swoop could have foiled an imminent attack in Northern Ireland similar to those carried out in recent months by extremists opposed to the peace process.

Mr Ahern said the threat from dissident groups remained strong but insisted authorities north and south of the border were determined to tackle them at every turn.

"The harsh reality is from time to time relatively small groups of people can succeed in committing violent acts.

"But these people will have to get the message one way or the other that their activities are doomed to fail."