Senior security sources in Derry confirmed yesterday they believe the discovery of five mortar bomb components on the southern outskirts of the city could be linked to the Provisional IRA's decommissioning process.
The devices were found behind a wall along the Old Letterkenny Road beside a Travellers' halting site at 5am on Wednesday by a local man. No report was made to the police for another 12 hours.
The component parts for the Mark 15 mortar bombs included five firing tubes, five launching pads and five gas cylinders. No explosives or electrical components were found.
The discovery was confirmed just hours before a visit to the city by PSNI Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde, who said: "It is good and significant that these devices have been taken out of circulation, that they have been put beyond use. They will now be examined by forensic scientists to determine their history, their origin and if they were formally dismantled and dumped."
Announcing the discovery, Foyle district commander Richard Russell said the haul of component parts for what are commonly known as barrack- buster bombs was a positive development. "I can confirm that the five devices, minus explosives and minus electrical parts, were found following a report from the scene to us."
One senior security source said they were examining the possibility that the IRA had started to decommission its weaponry: "Although the last time one of these was used in Derry was by the Real IRA, we are inclined to link these devices to the Provisional IRA. We do not think that the Real IRA currently has the capability to manufacture barrack-buster mortar bombs."
Meanwhile, during his visit to Derry, Sir Hugh toured the Fountain and Irish Street interface areas which have been the scenes of sectarian violence in recent weeks.