Derry Alert As Dissident Suspects Held

There's a security alert still underway this afternoon in the North West after Army Technical Officers (ATO) removed a suspicious object on the Foyle Road, Londonderry.

It was found during a planned police operation targeting dissident republican activity overnight.

This latest operation has also led to the detention of three men aged 54, 43, 23 and a 16-year-old boy.

The 23-year-old was arrested in a car in Abercorn Road, where a rifle was recovered by police. The other three suspects, who were not in the car, were detained a short time later as part of a follow-up operation.

As part of the subsequent follow up, an object was discovered, and was removed for examination by ATO. However, searches are continuing in the area this afternoon.

The suspects were arrested after a dramatic incident when the PSNI rammed a car on the Foyle Road close to the junction of Ferguson Street shortly before 9pm on Tuesday.

Three of those arrested were detained at the scene, while the fourth man was arrested at nearby licensed premises.

Today, all four are being questioned at the PSNI's Serious Crime Suite in Antrim.

The PSNI said the gun recovered from the vehicle has also been taken away for forensic examination.

Also within the last 24 hours, two 30-year-old men were arrested following a security alert in Co Antrim.

The incident closed a car park at the Ballygrooby roundabout in Randalstown on Tuesday afternoon with Army bomb experts sent to the scene where "an item" was recovered for further examinations.

Death Plot

In another terror-related development, the Belfast News Letter has reported that republican group Oglaigh na hEireann planned to kill multiple police officers by blowing up a patrol car using a mortar bomb in the north and west Belfast area.

The Police Federation told the morning newspaper "it was well aware of the escalating threat level in north and west Belfast in particular".

The attack was abandoned because a police car failed to arrive on the scene.

(BMcC/GK)