Twelve suspected dissident republicans remain in PSNI custody

Twelve suspected dissident republicans, including a senior republican who has been named in connection with the Omagh bombing, remained in custody last night.

They were arrested in a major police operation in Newry, Co Down on Monday night.

Sources said that the 12 men, some of who previously would have been involved with provisional republicanism, were being questioned in connection with the activities of the Continuity IRA.

They were arrested at a house in Ardcarne Park in Newry.

Security sources stressed yesterday that the arrests on Monday night were not directly related to Omagh but were concerned with dissident republican activity, in this case the operations of the Continuity IRA.

Gardaí also assisted in the operation with a number of searches carried out on homes south of the Border. Most of those arrested in Newry are from the South.

The men were arrested under the Terrorism Act and potentially could be held for up to 28 days. Police, however, must seek a special extension detention order after 48 hours.

The men range in age from 36 to 75.