The investigation into a break-in in Northern Ireland's highest security police station took a dramatic twist today as police arrested six people during raids on homes in republican areas of Belfast and Derry.
In a joint police and Army operation, four men and two women were arrested for questioning about the break-in staged two weeks ago at Castlereagh Police Station in east Belfast.
Sinn Féin today condemned the arrests as "highly provocative", as they came on the eve of a series of rallies marking the anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising.
A police spokesman confirmed that houses in west, north and east Belfast and Derry were raided and arrests made.
Police were "supported by their military colleagues", he said, adding that officers were now making detailed searches of the premises.
Republican sources also said that an office for ex-prisoners in Derry was also raided.
West Belfast Sinn Féin MLA member Mr Alex Maskey said the arrests and raids were "ridiculous" and "highly-provocative".
He said: "I understand journalists are being briefed that the arrests are in connection with the Castlereagh break-in.
"I think today's incidents underline the need for an independent public inquiry into the whole affair," he added
Ulster Unionist MP Mr David Burnside said there would be huge implications for the peace process if it was established that the IRA was behind the Castlereagh break-in.
He said "Setting aside the security implications, I would argue this also has huge implications for the political process."
"You can't have Martin McGuinness's colleagues playing a game by day of being in politics and then a game by night of engaging in illegal terrorist activities." Mr Burnside said. After the March 17th break-in, Northern Ireland Secretary Dr John Reid appointed Sir John Chilcot, a former Permanent Under Secretary at the Northern Ireland Office, to head a British government investigation of events at Castlereagh.
A police investigation has also been taking place.
The break-in embarrassed security chiefs and caused alarm that the raiders might have taken sensitive top secret information on the network of agents and informers who operate in the North.
Today's raids came on the eve of outgoing police chief constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan's last day in office.
PA