Dissident Republicans are planning a terrorist attack on the G8 summit in Fermanagh this summer according to security experts with Britain’s MI5.
A report in the UK edition of the Sun newspaper claims that MI5 officers have unearthed a plot by the New IRA to target the summit.
The paper says the New IRA knows that a bomb spectacular at the five star Lough Erne hotel would hijack global headlines.
US President Barack Obama, British Prime Minister David Cameron and Russia’s Vladimir Putin are among the world leaders due to attend the meeting in Enniskillen in June.
A Whitehall source told the Sun: “We can’t rule out some cowardly attack.”
British security chiefs believe the renegade IRA could number as many as 700 members.
The report claims that up to five militant groups opposed to the Northern Ireland peace process have joined forces to form the New IRA.
The summit will also be attended by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande, Canadian PM Stephen Harper, Japanese PM Shinzo Abe and Italian PM Mario Monti.
A senior Whitehall source said: “We are very confident that the G8 venue is completely secure.
“But we can’t rule out the possibility of some kind of cowardly attack in another part of the Province.”
The new IRA group claimed responsibility for the murder of prison officer David Black last November.
The report says the gang is outside the control of Sinn Fein.
The paper also states that renegades are believed to be making Taliban-style bombs which pierce armour plating before exploding.
Three of the devices, designed to kill people inside armoured vehicles, have already been seized in Northern Ireland this year.
Police chief Stephen Martin said: “It is a worrying development.”
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.IrelandNorth | Feb 03, 2013, 05:25 AM EST
I hardly think even the chuckie-or-law boys of Continuous Reality would be stupid enough to disrupt the billionaire boys club from bank rolling Irish unity. These security spooks need to get a real job, like social work with the downtroddden dispossed, and stop playing pound shop James Bonds.
Portia_O'Neill | Feb 02, 2013, 09:10 PM EST
I doubt it.
seanomelb | Feb 02, 2013, 06:13 PM EST
You have no clew where I'll be Anglo, I know you will be far enough from the summit to save you're butt
anglo-norman | Feb 02, 2013, 03:59 PM EST
seanomelb- You needn't worry son as you are safe in melbourne.
merefalow | Feb 02, 2013, 03:13 PM EST
i dont care who blows them up,i just hate the european ,no borders superstate.
IrelandNorth | Feb 02, 2013, 02:19 PM EST
I'm surprised to see IrishCentral syndicating a British tabloid as authority. They're comic books or graphic novels for grown ups. And of course security services will take any opportunity to justify their existence. Wouldn't you if you were payed big money to play a real life Austin Powers or Johnny English. God protect us and save us from the security spooks as much as global monopoly capital.
irishfree1916 | Feb 02, 2013, 01:44 PM EST
It's nice the Empire has some one else to use as an example to sho that the Irish are not worthy of being English! Remember the Sun will never set and you knknow who rule the waves! Liz keep on waving!
pilib04 | Feb 02, 2013, 10:56 AM EST
Phlutie, I am sure that Martin McGuinness and Peter Robinson will be greeting the G8 members, in their official capacity, when the G8 gathers in Fermanagh. There is still speculation that President Obama, his wife, Michelle and their two lovely daughters, will also be revisiting the President's ancestral birthplace, Moneygall, Offaly and rumours about New Ross, Wexford (the Kennedy family ancestral birthplace). I am sure our President will be welcomed enthusiastically wherever he goes in Ireland because the Irish people have a great affection for the President and the First Family. For the life of me I could not make heads or tails out of your ramblings about Gerry Adams TD. Although, nothing new about that!
pilib04 | Feb 02, 2013, 10:44 AM EST
I have renounced the dissidents on a number of occasions because of their attempt to disrupt the peace process/Good Friday Agreement. However, the misleading headline of this smear story needs to be exposed. The Sun is an ANTI IRISH rag. Nothing in the article has any sources whatsoever! Everything is anonymous. The Sun alleging that M15 has secretly stumbled onto this is quite convenient, both for the Sun and the discredited counterinsurgency organization.
gobdawpaddy | Feb 02, 2013, 05:37 AM EST
Would imagine that if they are that stupid, they may have a re-union with their old pals from the SAS.
Joe Glackin | Feb 02, 2013, 12:02 AM EST
PATRICK COUNIHAN, and any that believe this nonsense should realize ,the Sun rag, is a totally anti Irish ,false reporting etc etc low level ink soaking piece of paper.Even reacting or commenting on its contents gives it credibility.
curtisjohnson | Feb 01, 2013, 11:04 PM EST
The whitehall fiends, who have engineered centuries of murder and all other manner of atrocities, seems to have endless energy for churning out hypocritical lies. What an absurd notion that the new IRA would gain anything by attacking the G8.
seanomelb | Feb 01, 2013, 08:46 PM EST
Typical britsh smear they are sounding like the are praying for such an attack.
Springfield9 | Feb 01, 2013, 04:45 PM EST
MI5 could unearth a plot in a retirement home. They are liars and killers.
PhlutiePhan | Feb 01, 2013, 02:30 PM EST
Will Gerry be there or only orchestrating from his "bunker". Now, you know why the Republicans have aid from Iran and China. They aren't buying thier weapons and explosives from Wal-Mart.
seamus60 | Feb 01, 2013, 01:51 PM EST
ChaarlieM. Ye don`t know the half of it, they now allow them to dress like this and carry imitation firearms putting on re enactments in an effort to look like Irish Republicans, and it ain`t even illegal.
ancavker | Feb 01, 2013, 11:41 AM EST
These clowns better stay out of my beloved Fermanagh, northwest Cavan; we don't want them. A bunch of gnagsters and low lifes.
johnshiel | Feb 01, 2013, 10:34 AM EST
these newies need a better PR consultant... fermanagh is a bit out of the way for making a big splash with yourself, no?
CharlieM | Feb 01, 2013, 09:45 AM EST
Tell me, isn't membership in a terrorist organization a crime in both parts of Ireland? Why then do the authorities allow these rowdies and criminals to prance around [photo accompanying your article] dressed like soldiers (which of course they most certainly are not)?
seamus60 | Feb 01, 2013, 09:15 AM EST
It hardly takes MI5 to come up with the notion that Republicans on a millitary footing would be looking at this as a target. A non story that will no doubt be used to justify mistreatment of Republicans.