Police in Belfast have thwarted a dissident IRA attempt to launch a warhead against security forces.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland has confirmed that a rocket launcher and warhead were discovered by police in west Belfast.
A spokesman for the PSNI revealed that the weapons were found by officers investigating dissident republican activity in the city.
Irish state broadcaster RTE reports that the weapons were discovered while police were searching a house on Hawthorn Street.
A number of homes in the area were evacuated following the find.
The rocket launcher and warhead have been taken away for forensic examination.
The police spokesperson said: “These weapons systems are clearly intended to kill and we should be in no doubt that the recovery of these items has saved lives.”
10 Comments
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.seamus60 | Feb 28, 2013, 08:09 AM EST
Scouse Tony. Who are these Stickies you talk of ?
seamus60 | Feb 28, 2013, 08:07 AM EST
SF spokesmen like the Maskeys were quick off the mark to congratulate the psni on their find. Gone to ground now though that it appears the RPG 7 was one of their decommissioned ones.
Scouse Tony | Feb 28, 2013, 02:25 AM EST
It should be easy enough to match the RPG7 to any known from the batches sent by that late fun loving criminal Colonel Gaddafi to PIRA in the 80’s. I wouldn’t be surprised if the find was from information received aimed at limiting the stickies ability to create mayhem.
Smyrnian | Feb 27, 2013, 09:08 PM EST
You can't buy rocket launchers and warheads at gun shows. What an idiotic statement!
aloistmartin | Feb 27, 2013, 08:45 PM EST
Dissident Republicans ? What brought that on ?
seamus60 | Feb 27, 2013, 07:16 PM EST
Possibly planted by MI5 and or their SF allies
Paul Hogan | Feb 27, 2013, 03:35 PM EST
Dear pilib04 you might be right but to clarify my point, the items specified were probably planted by MI5 or their informers. The information was given to RTE reporter who created a sensational headline as it was a slow news day.
IrelandNorth | Feb 27, 2013, 01:36 PM EST
Probably a manifestation of a clash between republican idealism and nationalist pragmatism, just like flag protesters are a manifestation of a clash between loyalist idealism and unionist pragmatismm. A resolution to all conflicts is usually in the centre between opposing extremes. The golden mean or middle way between a United Kingdom and a united Ireland is a federal confederation.
pilib04 | Feb 27, 2013, 12:14 PM EST
Paul, you might not be making the point you think that you are making.
Paul Hogan | Feb 27, 2013, 11:34 AM EST
What is so major about thoes few Items.You can buy them at any Gun Show Here.At least we have Freedom. No Ex"B" Specials,running the Country.