8 N. Ireland Dissidents Held by Irish Police
Irish police said Saturday that they had arrested eight men as part of investigations into the activities of a dissident Northern Ireland republican group, the Real IRA.
They refused to comment on media reports that one of those detained was the chief of staff of the group that was behind the 1998 Omagh car bombing in Northern Ireland that killed 29 people and wounded more than 200.
News of the arrests came as Britain said it would restore home rule to Northern Ireland this week after the province’s main Protestant party voted to return to government with Roman Catholic republicans.
Irish police have stepped up operations against dissident republican guerrillas in recent weeks amid fears of a fresh campaign of violence in Northern Ireland, where the peace process is in a delicate stage.
Suspects can be held as long as 72 hours without charge under Ireland’s Offenses Against the State Act.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
