A major PSNI security operation in County Armagh has recovered components of a 250lb bomb

It seems police officers have successfuly prevented an imminent republican bomb attack today, recovering components for a 250lb car bomb (I believe that's 115Kg Simon ) from a vehicle breaker's yard in Lurgan. The discovery was made as part of a 'major security operation' in Co. Armagh, involving sniffer dogs and dozens of officers and following which 4 men were arrested.

Superintendent Alan Todd blamed republican dissidents and said that due to the unstable nature of the components, the attack would almost certainly have had to be carried out in the immediate future. It was even suggested it was due to be detonated later today.

As the police were clearing up the bomb parts, which was being constructed in a heavily residential area of Lurgan town centre and close to extensively used commercial premises, they came under attack from nationalist youths. It's sad really that the police can't even dispose of a bomb in parts of Northern Ireland without being subject to vicious assaults.

Follow up:

"They were also playing with the lives of the people of Lurgan by making such a sophisticated device in the heart of the community."
Delores Kelly MLA, (SDLP)

Lurgan hasn't been the only place republicans have been active recently though, they seem determined to wreck the fragile peace in Northern Ireland, stepping up a gear in their efforts. This raid today followed on from last Thursday's failed attack on a police station in Londonderry. However, as noted both by Fair_Deal at Slugger and in this report, republican attacks have been largely unsuccessful in recent years.

"In recent years, most dissident IRA attacks have either misfired or been intercepted by police. Dissident IRA violence last claimed a life in 2002, when a Protestant construction worker at a closed British army base in Londonderry was blown up by a booby-trapped lunch box."

It's important not to be too cocky though. As the IRA are so keen to remind everyone: the police need to be lucky every time; a terrorist only needs to be lucky once.