A man and woman were last night being questioned by police about the killing of Ms Rosemary Nelson. The arrests are the first of the year-long investigation into the death of the Lurgan-based solicitor.
The Deputy Chief Constable of Norfolk, Mr Colin Port, who is heading the inquiry, would last night neither confirm nor deny the arrests had been made. According to a spokeswoman, Mr Port would be available for comment today.
Ms Nelson, a mother of three, died when a loyalist booby-trap device exploded under her car as she drove away from her home. Next Wednesday is the first anniversary of her killing, which was claimed by the dissident loyalist grouping, the Red Hand Defenders.
The couple arrested are both in their mid-30s and were detained by RUC officers after an arms find early yesterday morning. It is understood they live together but are not married.
Officers discovered two guns and a quantity of ammunition during a search of a house at Breezemount Manor in the loyalist village of Hamiltonsbawn, five miles outside Armagh City. They were last night being held at the RUC interrogation centre at Strand Road in Derry.
The couple were first questioned about the arms discovery but the inquiry was then widened when members of the Nelson murder inquiry team, headed Mr Port, were called in to question the couple.
It is understood they are being held under the Prevention of Terrorism Act and can be detained for up to seven days without charge.