http://www.thesun.ie/irishsol/homepage/news/4961558/Race-to-find-churn-bomb.htmlRace to find churn bomb
G8 summit cops hunt dissident mobs.
RUTHLESS dissident republicans plan to detonate a bomb stashed in a CREAM churn during the G8 summit.
The Irish Sun can reveal anti-terror cops are frantically searching for the device after receiving intelligence it had been dumped somewhere along the Donegal and Fermanagh border.
Gardai fear the New IRA — along with their cohorts in Oglaigh na hEireann — have hidden the device in a cream churn as it’s half the size of the milk containers previously used by gangs to conceal bombs.
The major economic conference will be held at the luxury Lough Erne resort on June 17 and will be attended by the world’s top political leaders, including US President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron.
But with less than a week to go before the confab starts, the Irish Sun provides an insight into the threat posed by republican extremists. We reveal how:
Dissidents have constructed a NEW mortar that explodes just four feet from the ground;
Expert bomb makers are using equipment from car AIRBAGS to propel bombs;
Gardai are searching for a MAJOR bomb-making factory;
Experienced Provos have now JOINED forces with dissidents.
A senior security source said: “Intelligence has been received on both sides of the Border that the dissidents have planted a device in a cream churn. The container is smaller than the one found after Queen Elizabeth’s visit to Dublin and is easier to conceal.
“Die-hard republicans would like northing more than to stage a ‘spectacular’ during the G8 summit.
Flare-up ... G20 protests in Canada, June 2010
“The sinister nature of this development proves just how sophisticated the dissidents have become in recent months.
“The other fear is that they have developed a mortar which explodes just a few feet from the ground to cause more widespread damage.
“The fact that these experienced bomb-makers are using a device contained with a car’s airbag mechanism to propel the mortar shows just how calculated they are.”
We can also reveal gardai believe that mortars found in Derry in March were made here before being brought north.
Two men in their thirties have been charged with conspiring to cause explosions, possession of mortars and possession of a van for terrorist purposes.
The pair were described in court as prominent dissident republicans.
The source added: “The belief among the Gardai’s crime and security branch is that the bombs are being made at a secret factory in Dublin before coming north.
“The devices found in Derry were brought north and they were only discovered by the MI5.
Prepared ... PSNI officer Finaly
“Gardai believe there’s a secret bomb factory but they have been unable to locate it. Over the next week many of the prominent dissidents here will be under 24-hour surveillance.
“The dissidents are also stealing cars, leaving them close to police stations in the North before replacing them with a similar vehicle that’s been fitted to fire mortars.
“These people are extremely dangerous and are being led by a former republican activist from Armagh.”
The source told how the republican gang of Alan Ryan — who was shot dead in Dublin last year — is washed up.
But he added: “Ryan’s Real IRA gang are finished and there’s now a more vicious breed of terrorist calling the shots. It’s only a matter of time before someone gets killed.”
Our revelations come after Assistant Commissioner Kieran Kenny revealed that Gardai were receiving intelligence every day about the threat posed by renegade republicans and other extremist groups.
Senior officer Kenny, who has responsibility for the Northern Region, told how his troops were prepared for the huge security op.
In good cheer ... world leaders watching footie
He said: “The dissident threat is something we have planned for. So plans will take account of worst and best-case scenarios.
“I’m confident we have enough resources to deal with any problems and we are planning for all eventualities.
“We are working closely with law enforcement agencies at Europol, Interpol and in France to prevent such attacks.”
Cops in the North also fear dissident republicans will launch a terror attack during the high-profile economic conference.
PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Alistair Finlay warned: “I’ve got no reason to say that dissidents won’t do something during the summit.
Riot training ... PSNI ready for all eventualities
“We would say people shouldn’t be surprised if there are incidents. We anticipate those incidents won’t be at, near or affecting any part of the delivery of the G8.
“These groups have real capability and capacity.”
Over 900 gardai will be deployed this Friday when Operation Shield swings into action.
Elite units involved in the huge security operation include the Emergency Response Unit, the Special Detective Unit, the National Surveillance Unit the Crime and Security branch and armed detectives.
Next week’s security operation will be the biggest since Queen Elizabeth’s historic visit to Ireland in 2011.
We also revealed last month how 12 French extremists had travelled to Ireland last month on a major anti-G8 recruitment drive.
