Police in the North have said they have disrupted a "major terrorist conspiracy" to procure arms after arresting ten people during an operation against dissident republicans in counties Armagh and Fermanagh this morning.
Ten people were arrested and eight premises searched in raids that involved some 200 police officers supported by the British army.
Det Chief Supt Norman Baxter
One of those arrested is being questioned about the 1998 Omagh bomb attack.
Police said the operation targeted dissident republican activity in both the United Kingdom and Europe.
The operation followed a joint investigation between the PSNI's Crime Operations Department and the British security service.
Detective Chief Superintendent Norman Baxter said: "This investigation has been ongoing for a number of months and has involved close liaison with colleagues in the Security Service and police services across Europe.
"We believe that this operation has disrupted a potential major terrorist conspiracy."
The PSNI revealed French police were involved in the investigation.
A spokesman said: "We can confirm that part of today's operation was the disruption of a conspiracy by dissident republicans to procure a significant quantity of arms.
"Detectives from the crime operations branch of the PSNI were present in France to assist French police in conducting a related search.
"Inquiries in Europe are continuing.".
