Six men arrested over link to Real IRA attacks

Six suspected members of the dissident Irish Republican terrorist group, the Real IRA, were arrested in London and Liverpool yesterday during early morning raids.

The men were being questioned last night about a series of attacks on the British mainland. These include three in London – a rocket assault on the MI6 headquarters, a taxi bomb outside the BBC centre, and a car bomb in Ealing. The Real IRA have also been blamed for the recent case of a car bomb in Birmingham.

The six, aged between 20 and 40, are from Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic and are believed to be linked to a terrorist cell working in Britain.

The arrests follow a covert operation involving officers from Scotland Yard's anti- terrorist and special branch, MI5, and the police in Ireland.

Five men were arrested by armed officers during a 6am raid on a house in north London. They were later taken to the high-security Paddington Green police station for questioning. The sixth man was thought to be walking along a street in Liverpool when he was arrested and was taken to a local police station where he was being interviewed by anti-terrorist branch officers.

The houses where the men were staying were being searched for documents, bomb-making equipment and firearms. Two properties in West Yorkshire were also searched yesterday.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Alan Fry, head of the anti-terrorist branch, said: "These arrests are the result of a lengthy investigation into dissident Irish Republican terrorist groups. Those in custody are being questioned in connection with the current bombing campaign on the UK mainland."

The Real IRA has been held responsible for at least seven attacks in Britain in the last 18 months. The organisation is considered to be the main dissident threat to the Northern Ireland peace process.