Gardaí have arrested two men on suspicion of membership of a violent right-wing extremist organisation.
The arrest follows the discovery of component parts of a suspected improvised explosive device (IED) across the border in Newry by the PSNI.
The discovery and arrest have been seen as a significant, but not unexpected, development in Garda Headquarters, given the deteriorating climate of hatred and violence from the far right towards asylum seekers and foreigners.
The two men were arrested following a major surveillance operation by Garda security services, working in conjunction with the PSNI.
They were arrested by the Special Detective Unit (SDU) — the force’s operational anti-terrorism unit — in the Abbeyleix area of Offaly at around midnight on Tuesday.
They are being detained on suspicion of membership of an unlawful organisation under the Offences Against the State Act 1939.
This suggests the two men are suspected of being part of an actual organisation, believed to be a relatively new violent far-right extremist organisation.
The numbers in the organisation are understood to be small.
PSNI officers recovered component parts of a suspected IED at the scene in a search carried out on Wednesday night.
It is understood that the Garda Security & Intelligence Service has been putting additional resources into preventing and investigating the possible emergence of a violent far-right organisation in Ireland.
Various units, including the SDU, have been on a heightened “state of alert” for such a development, not least given the escalation of violence and arson attacks directed at asylum seekers.
One of the lines of inquiry is to establish the possible intended use of the suspected IED and whether or not asylum accommodation could have been targeted.
Digital devices linked to the two men arrested are currently being examined.
The Irish Examiner further understands that the SDU are supporting the investigation into the arson attack on an Ipas centre in Drogheda.