A MAN has been arrested in the Republic as part of an investigation into a dissident Republican grenade attack on PSNI officers in the North last weekend in which semtex was used.
The man in his 30s was arrested yesterday morning during a co-ordinated cross-border operation by the Garda and PSNI against the gang suspected of the attack.
The suspect was detained during a search in the Blacklion area of Co Cavan. He was taken for questioning to Manorhamilton Garda station and was still being detained last night under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act. He can be held for up to three days without charge.
At the same time he was being arrested the PSNI carried out search operations in the Belcoo area of Co Fermanagh. No arrests were made.
During the attack on Saturday night three PSNI officers were targeted on Main Street, Lisnaskea, Co Fermanagh, at 11pm.
Two of the officers were on foot patrol on the street while a third was in a nearby police vehicle. A man stepped from a white Ford Escort and fired an improvised rocket launcher at the two officers on foot. They suffered shock and minor injuries when the device failed to detonate.
Nearby houses were evacuated, and a burning car was discovered in the Chapel Bray area that police believed was linked to the attack.
The attack is believed to be the first by dissident Republicans in which semtex was used.