Police probing the New IRA arrest man, 62, on terror charge at Heathrow – leading officers to search property in Edinburgh
- The man, aged 62, was arrested at Heathrow Airport under the Terrorism Act
- Arrested as part of Operation Arbacia an investigation into the New IRA
- Scottish officers are searching a property in the Blackhall area of Edinburgh
Police investigating dissident republican group the New IRA have made an arrest at London‘s Heathrow Airport.
The man, aged 62, was arrested under the Terrorism Act as part of Operation Arbacia – a cross-border investigation into the activities of the New IRA.
Officers from Police Scotland are searching a property in the Blackhall area of Edinburgh following the detention.
Police investigating dissident republican group the New IRA have made an arrest at London’s Heathrow Airport (file image)
Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Assistant Chief Constable Barbara Gray said: ‘Detectives from the PSNI’s Terrorism Investigation Unit have today arrested a 62-year-old man at Heathrow Airport under the Terrorism Act as part of Operation Arbacia, an ongoing investigation into the activities of the New IRA.’
It comes after seven men and two women were arrested as part of the same operation on Tuesday.
Nine people, aged between 26 and 50, were taken in for questioning at Musgrave Street Police Station in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Assistant Chief Constable at Police Service Northern Ireland, Barbara Gray said earlier this week: ‘I can confirm that nine people were arrested on Tuesday under the Terrorism Act in connection with an ongoing investigation into the activities of the New IRA.
‘All nine remain in custody.
‘The seven men and two women, aged between 26 and 50 years, were arrested as part of Operation Arbacia.
Seven men and two women are being questioned at Musgrave Street police station in Belfast after searches were carried out in the Republic of Ireland following an investigation into the New IRA
‘They are currently in Musgrave Serious Crime Suite, where they continue to be questioned on suspicion of a wide range of terrorist activity.’
The New IRA has been behind a number of attempted attacks on police and is considered to be the largest dissident republican group.
The group claimed responsibility for the death of journalist Lyra McKee, who was shot dead while observing riots in Londonderry last year.