Carrickmacross: Police ‘intercept car with bomb on way to attack in NI’

A car containing an “extremely significant” bomb has been intercepted in the Republic of Ireland as it was being driven across the border for an attack in Northern Ireland, police have said.

The vehicle was stopped during an operation targeting dissident republican activities on Wednesday. Two people were subsequently arrested.

Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly confirmed on Friday that officers found an explosive device and described it as an “extremely significant seizure”.

The vehicle was stopped on the N2 near Carrickmacross, County Monaghan, at about 15:00 local time on Wednesday.

A woman in her 20s, who was the driver of the vehicle, was arrested on Wednesday afternoon and a man in his 40s has since been arrested.

Gardaí (Irish police) requested the assistance of the Irish Defence Forces Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team who examined the vehicle.