New IRA arrest: Edinburgh man held in Belfast as part of investigation

An Edinburgh man is being held in Belfast as part of an investigation into the New IRA following his dramatic arrest at London’s Heathrow Airport on Saturday.

The 62-year-old – who has not been named - is believed to live in a neat bungalow in the Blackhall district of the Capital. The property was the subject of an intensive search by detectives on Saturday.

Neighbours said “scores” of police officers descended on the quiet street and concentrated much of their search activity on the bungalow’s garage. A grey 4X4 vehicle was later removed.

The drama unfolded in the city as the number of people who have been apprehended during the cross-borders operation against the dissident republican organisation rose to ten. On Saturday morning, two men were charged and appeared in court.

Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) assistant chief constable Barbara Gray said the arrests were part of Operation Arbacia, targeting dissident republicans who have been blamed for the murder of journalist Lyra Mckee who was shot dead in Londonderry in April last year.

ACC Gray said: “Detectives from the PSNI’s Terrorism Investigation Unit have arrested a 62-year-old man at Heathrow Airport under the Terrorism Act in connection with an ongoing investigation into the activities of the New IRA.

“The man, who resides in Scotland and was arrested as part of Operation Arbacia, has been brought to Northern Ireland and is currently in Musgrave serious crime suite where he is being questioned.”

Police Scotland said the search by their officers of the Edinburgh property was carried out to support colleagues from Northern Ireland.

Detective Chief Superintendent Philip Chapman, head of Police Scotland’s Organised Crime and Counter Terrorism Unit, said: “I can confirm that Police Scotland officers carried out a search under warrant of a property in the Blackhall area of Edinburgh to support the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s Operation Arbacia. This was a contained operation. I would like to reassure the public that there was no threat to the wider community.”

Nine other suspects, seven men and two women, were also taken into custody last week in raids across Ulster.

Two of the suspects appeared on Saturday at Belfast Magistrates’ Court where it was confirmed that MI5 played a key role in the operation.

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