The
find is seen as a huge blow to dissident republicans who "want to draw
Northern Ireland back into the dark days of terrorism".
Some of the equipment found at the arms dump
A
"significant" arms and munitions dump has been discovered by police
investigating dissident republican terrorism in Northern Ireland.
Officers are examining firearms, explosives, pipe
bombs, mortars and launchers that were found in a wooded area of Lurgan,
County Armagh.
Detective Inspector Karen Baxter said the items, discovered close to a derelict house, were "in the advanced stages of readiness" and that the find had saved lives.
Her officers, with support from army technical officers,
are continuing to deal with a fully constructed bomb close to the
Belfast-Dublin railway line.
Anne Connolly, chairperson of the Policing Board in Northern Ireland, said: "It is a great result for the Police Service Northern Ireland to find these firearms and munitions and take them away from those who would have used them to cause harm to our community."
Upper Bann MP David Simpson said: "This is a huge and significant blow against dissident republicans who want to draw Northern Ireland back into the dark days of terrorism.
"The security forces are to be congratulated in their work for uncovering this and I hope they will continue to make significant strides against terrorism here."
Sinn Féin MLA Catherine Seeley said: "The fact that those would
try to roll back the progress we have made as a society, regardless of
who they claim to represent, will not be able to use these weapons is to
be welcomed."
Members of the security forces are under threat from dissident republicans who are opposed to the peace process.
Police, prison guards and soldiers have been among those targeted.
Officers had spent two days searching the outskirts of Lurgan and the weapons were found near an abandoned house close to the railway line between Belfast and Portadown in Co Armagh.
Detective Inspector Karen Baxter said the items, discovered close to a derelict house, were "in the advanced stages of readiness" and that the find had saved lives.
Police say the find has made the community safer
Anne Connolly, chairperson of the Policing Board in Northern Ireland, said: "It is a great result for the Police Service Northern Ireland to find these firearms and munitions and take them away from those who would have used them to cause harm to our community."
Upper Bann MP David Simpson said: "This is a huge and significant blow against dissident republicans who want to draw Northern Ireland back into the dark days of terrorism.
"The security forces are to be congratulated in their work for uncovering this and I hope they will continue to make significant strides against terrorism here."
A stun gun casing is among the items found at the arms dump in Lurgan
Members of the security forces are under threat from dissident republicans who are opposed to the peace process.
Police, prison guards and soldiers have been among those targeted.
Officers had spent two days searching the outskirts of Lurgan and the weapons were found near an abandoned house close to the railway line between Belfast and Portadown in Co Armagh.
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