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Seven held in dissident searches | Seven held in dissident searches |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Seven men have been arrested in Craigavon in a police operation against dissident republican activity. | |
Searches are still going on in the Brownlow area. Police said there could be disruption for some time. | |
Dozens of officers began searching houses and fields in several parts of Craigavon close to Lurgan at about 0530 BST on Thursday. | |
The Army's bomb squad is also involved and is believed to be searching for explosives and bomb-making equipment. | |
It is believed the operation is targeting the Continuity IRA. | |
Republican dissidents have been active in the north Armagh area for the last few years and have been blamed for a number of failed attacks on the police. | |
The police searches are likely to last for much of the day. | |
Chief Inspector Pauline Shields apologised for the disruption but said the operation was necessary. | |
"I can assure local people that we will keep that disruption to a minimum," she said. | "I can assure local people that we will keep that disruption to a minimum," she said. |
"I can also assure them that the operation will not be in place for one minute longer than is necessary." | |