“It is very serious and highly organised”

Originally charged in April 2007 after being observed by an army surveillance team, three men were sentenced today to 15 years each in connection with the discovery of a mortar bomb and launching tube near Lurgan, County Armagh. And the BBC reports, “There have been distubances in Lurgan, County Armagh, with a lorry and a van hijacked and burnt-out.”

SDLP assembly member Dolores Kelly said there had been reports of armed and masked men in parts of the town and that the violence was “futile”. “The trouble was anticipated by both police and the community given the sentencing of three men for dissident crimes earlier,” she said. “It is very serious and highly organised, with stockpiling of petrol since yesterday, and we are getting reports of more hijackings and armed and masked men being seen in parts of the town.

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