A series of pipe bombs found in a Northern Ireland cemetery have been found to be “viable” and have been attributed to the New IRA, according to police. The discovery of the explosives has sparked concerns of a potential resurgence of violence in the region, following decades of sectarian conflict, and has raised questions about the effectiveness of peace agreements signed in the 1990s. In this article, we will explore the implications of the recent discovery and what it might mean for the future of Northern Ireland.
Northern Ireland has once again been shaken by dissident republican activity as police confirm the New IRA was responsible for the discovery of four viable pipe bombs in the City Cemetery in Creggan. The devices were found following an Easter Monday republican parade during which the clothes of marchers were torched under the cover of large umbrellas. This latest activity comes amid heightened tensions as the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement is commemorated, with the day providing a focus for dissident republican opposition.
These devices were discovered just ahead of US President Joe Biden’s visit to Northern Ireland, though the actual parade had taken place the day before his arrival. Assistant Chief Constable Bobby Singleton commented that the discovery of the bombs was a “sinister and worrying” development. Police have stated that the main line of inquiry is that the devices are attributable to the New IRA.
The group was formed in 2012 from a merger between the Real IRA, Republican Action Against Drugs (RAAD) and other small militant groups. Members identify as simply the Irish Republican Army. The New IRA is separate from the Provisional IRA, the Republican paramilitary group that fought during the Troubles. Although the Provisionals officially ended their campaign, the New IRA remains active, and is blamed for a variety of crimes, including the murder of journalist Lyra McKee in 2019.
The location of the discovery is significant as it is where earlier in the week clothes worn by participants in the parade were burnt. Local politicians condemned the attack, with Sinn Fein’s Michelle O’Neill labelling it as “deplorable”. Security assessments earlier in the year led MI5 to raise the terrorism threat level in Northern Ireland to ‘severe’, indicating that an attack is highly likely. Police had also warned that they had “strong” intelligence terror attacks were being planned against their officers on Easter Monday.
This latest incident follows on from a petrol bomb attack on an armoured police Land Rover in Creggan during an Easter Monday republican parade. The vehicle was being used to monitor the parade when it came under attack, which was condemned by local politicians. The fact that dissident republicans continue to engage in this type of activity is a bitter reminder of the ongoing tensions in Northern Ireland, which threaten the peace that the Good Friday Agreement brought to the region 25 years ago.
