By GB News (World News) | Created at 2026-07-24 11:46:05 | Updated at 2026-07-24 13:02:53
1 hour ago
An “extremely significant” car bomb has been intercepted while attempting to cross the Irish border into the UK as part of an operation targeting dissident republicans, Garda has said.
Two people have been arrested after the vehicle was stopped on the N2 near Carrickmacross, County Monaghan, at about 3pm local time on Wednesday, including a woman in her 20s and a man in his 40s.
The bomb had been completed and was ready for use, Irish broadcaster RTÉ reports.
Garda requested the assistance of the Irish Defence Forces Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team who examined the vehicle, with the outcome not being released for operational reasons.
The Army Bomb Disposal team was called in to make the device safe, before it was removed for a forensic examination.
The driver of the car, a woman in her 20s, was arrested and is being detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act.
A man in his 40s has also since been arrested and can also be questioned for up to three days.
Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly confirmed details of the operation as he spoke to media at a Garda graduation event in Co Tipperary this afternoon.
The bomb had been completed and was ready for use (stock image)
“To be clear, what we found was an extremely significant seizure,” he said.
“So this was an explosive device.”
Mr Kelly said it was concerning that there remains a small group of dissident republicans who did not put weapons and explosives beyond use.
He described them as "radicalised republicans", and said he was not surprised that the woman arrested was in her 20s, because "young people are being radicalised by terrorists".
He said they were working closely with the PSNI and the intelligence services in the UK to deal with the threat.
The bomb is said to have contained a power unit, a detonator and military grade explosives, expected to be used as a under-car bomb in an attack in Northern Ireland.
Mr Kelly added that the interception was an intelligence led operation, and the Garda had "significant information" about those involved.
Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan said the incident is evidence of the ongoing threat from dissident republican activity, and illustrates the ongoing co-operation between the PSNI and the Garda.
He also said it was "very worrying", but that he was encouraged that the Garda was able to apprehend the suspect, procure and defuse the device before it could become a threat to the public.
The commissioner and the minister for justice has spoken to the PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boucher about the incident.
