Ten men were being questioned by detectives on both sides of the Border last night in connection with the bombing of Omagh last August. Sources in Co Louth said that while some of them were known republicans, others have no political involvement.
In a carefully co-ordinated operation, the RUC arrested four men in the Jonesboro and Silverbridge areas of south Armagh early yesterday while another six were arrested by gardai in Dundalk, Co Louth.
Members of both forces swooped on homes in Dundalk and south Armagh and arrested the men in connection with the bombing and with a series of car-bombs in the North prior to Omagh.
The men from Dundalk range in age from mid-20 to late 40. A number of them are originally from the North. They were all arrested in their homes under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act. Sources said two of the south Armagh men were previously questioned about the bomb and released without charge. One of those arrested in Jonesboro lives in Co Monaghan and was staying overnight in south Armagh. His brother was arrested in Dundalk.
Four of those arrested in the Republic are being questioned by detectives in Cavan. The other two are being held in Monaghan. They can be kept in custody for up to 72 hours before being charged or released.
It is understood the four men arrested in south Armagh were taken to Castlereagh interrogation centre in Belfast. RUC officers were attacked during one of the swoops in Jonesboro. Four were injured when they came under sustained attack from a crowd of around 15 people.
Police were attacked with hurleys, stones and beer bottles. The RUC brought in reinforcements, local people said. Several of the assailants were injured and required stitches.
An RUC spokesman said officers were confronted by what he described as a "crowd of 15 intoxicated and very aggressive people". They were attacked with stones, beer glasses and hurling sticks by people who had been at a party, he said. Four people were treated for injuries.
Twenty-nine people were killed and more than 200 injured in the "Real IRA" bomb on the centre of Omagh last August. While dozens of people have been questioned in connection with the explosion, only one, Mr Colm Murphy (46), a publican and building contractor from south Armagh now living outside Dundalk, has been charged.
He is accused of conspiracy to cause an explosion and membership of an illegal organisation. He is currently on bail awaiting trial. The "Real IRA" admitted responsibility for the bomb.