New IRA weapons haul found in boiler
Guns may also have been used in attempted murder of police
Last updated 16th Nov 2018
A dissident republican weapons haul has been discovered in a residential boiler house that caught fire in Belfast, police have said.
Two AK47 assault rifles, two sawn-off shot guns, a high-powered rifle with a silencer fitted, three pipe bombs and more than 100 assorted rounds of ammunition were stored in the building that went on fire on Rodney Drive in west Belfast on Wednesday.
Police believe the weapons belonged to the so-called New IRA and may have been stored in the outhouse without the knowledge of the home owner.
Detectives believe the AK47s may have been used in murder bids against police officers in Belfast in 2015 and 2017.
Detective Superintendent John McVea, from the Police Service of Northern Ireland's terrorism investigation unit, told a media conference in Belfast: "We firmly believe these weapons belong to the new IRA.''
He said the weapons had been stored on top of the hot boiler.
"It beggars belief that anyone would store items as volatile as bombs and bullets in a hot environment,'' he said.
"This is simply reckless, it is stupid and it shows total disregard for the safety of local residents.
"Anyone with an ounce of sense would have known that live ammunition and pipe bombs mixed with heat is a recipe for carnage."
"We firmly believe these weapons belong to the New IRA.
"One of the lines of enquiry is that these AK 47 firearms were used in attempts to murder police officers in Rosnareen in November 2015 and on the Crumlin Road in January 2017.
"The Crumlin Road shooting in particular, also demonstrated recklessness and showed total disregard for members of the public as gunmen fired bullets into the filling station forecourt and shop, narrowly missing customers and passing motorists.
"We are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding how these weapons were stored in the boiler house.
"I believe they were moved there on Monday evening sometime after 9.30pm.
"I am keen to hear from anyone who saw or heard anything suspicious in the rear alleyway behind Rodney Drive around that time.
"These people are beneath contempt and I am asking for the community to stand up against these parasites.
"They don’t have your best interests at heart, instead they want to control and exploit the decent people trying to live their lives and raise their children.
"They clearly don’t care if they harm you in their sinister activities.
"This is not want anyone wants for the future.
“Anyone who heard or saw anyone acting suspiciously in the laneway at the back of Rodney Drive should contact police on 101 or on Crimestoppers on 0800 555111."
A 35 year-old man who was arrested under the Terrorism Act on Wednesday, 14 November has been released unconditionally.