Two men arrested and explosives seized in Co Louth counter-terrorism operation
On 23 October 2026, Gardaí arrested two men and seized component parts and suspected explosive material in a counter-terrorism operation in Co Louth. The men, one in his 50s and the other in his 20s, were detained under the Offences Against the State Act, 1939, as part of a long-standing investigation by the Special Detective Unit, with a Defence Forces EOD team examining the scene. Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly described the find as particularly significant and said he was in contact with PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher regarding countering dissident groups. No charges or court proceedings had been reported as of the latest update.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrested23 Oct
2 reports - Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Gardaí arrested two men and seized component parts and suspected explosive material in a counter-terrorism operation in Co Louth.
- Where
- The operation took place in Co Louth and both men are detained at Garda stations in the northeast of the country.
- When
- The operation and arrests took place on 23 October 2026.
- Investigation
- The operation was carried out by the Garda Special Detective Unit as part of a long-standing investigation, assisted by a Defence Forces EOD team examining the scene.
- Charges
- Both men are detained under the Offences Against the State Act, 1939.
- Other details
- One arrested man is in his 50s and the other is in his 20s.
- Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly described the find as particularly significant and said he was in contact with PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher regarding countering dissident groups.
- No further information about the nature of the operation or the circumstances surrounding the arrests has been released.
16 statements extracted from the articles
- whatGardaí arrested two men and seized explosives in Co Louth. (irishtimes.com)
- whatComponent parts and suspected explosive material were seized during the search. (irishtimes.com)
- whatOne arrested man is in his 50s and the other is in his 20s. (irishtimes.com)
- whereBoth men are detained at Garda stations in the northeast of the country. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationA Garda Special Detective Unit operation is under way in Co Louth. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationA Defence Forces EOD team is attending the scene. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationTwo people were arrested in connection with the inquiry. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe two people are detained in Garda stations in the north-east of the country. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe EOD team is carrying out an examination at the scene. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe operation was assisted by the Defence Forces EOD team. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe search and arrest operation was carried out by the counter-terrorism unit, the Special Detective Unit (SDU). (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe two people are detained under the Offences Against the State Act. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeBoth men are detained under the Offences Against the State Act, 1939. (irishtimes.com)
- otherNo further information about the nature of the operation or the circumstances surrounding the arrests has been released. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherGarda Commissioner Justin Kelly described the find as particularly significant. (irishtimes.com)
- otherKelly said he was in contact with PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher regarding countering dissident groups. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 23 Oct2026Gardaí arrest two men and seize explosives, with assistance from army bomb squad
Initial report of the arrest and seizure; no charges or court proceedings yet reported.
suspect, 50s, malesuspect, 20s, male - 23 Oct2026Garda operation in Louth as two arrested in long-standing investigation
Confirms the two arrests are part of a long-standing investigation, that the suspects are detained in Garda stations in the north-east under the Offences Against the State Act, and that a Defence Forces EOD team is examining the scene with no further details released at this stage.
suspectsuspect