PSNI terror unit finds "significant" amount of weapons and ammunition in 12 day search

By Q Radio News

The PSNI's Terrorism Investigation Unit has found significant quantities of weapons and ammunition during a major search operation over the last 12 days.

We're told officers carried out 13 searches involving land and properties in Lurgan and Benburb from Sunday April 29 until Friday May 11.

They included the derelict St Michael's High School in Lurgan and hedgerows near Lurgan's St Colemans Cemetery.

Detective Superintendent John McVea, from the Terrorism Investigation Unit, said: "Since Sunday 29th April detectives have carried out a total of 13 searches – 8 of these were in houses, 2 at derelict properties, 1 at the derelict site of St Michael’s High School in Lurgan and its surrounding grounds, open ground in Kilwilkie Estate and in 7 fields and hedgerows near St Colemans Cemetery in Lurgan.

"We have recovered a significant amount of dangerous weapons including 2 shotguns and 4 handguns, explosives, fertiliser, ammunition, tools, an improvised detonator, a suspected mortar tube, component parts for bomb making, mobile phones and other terrorist paraphernalia.

"These are all designed to do one thing – to murder. Many of these highly dangerous items were found in locations where members of the public could easily have come across them. This demonstrates the sheer recklessness and absolute lack of concern these terrorists have about harming people living in these communities.

"I believe ANP are responsible for the items discovered during a search of a property in the Carrickaness Road in Benburb on Thursday 3 May, including a quantity of explosives, and items suspected of being used to make bombs. And I believe the items recovered during the remainder of the searches belong to the Continuity IRA."