Ireland Two men arrested over possession of explosives in Co Louth
On 23 October 2026, Gardaí arrested two men and seized component parts and suspected explosive material in Co Louth. The men, one in his 50s and one in his 20s, are detained at Garda stations in the north-east under the Offences Against the State Act, 1939. The operation was carried out by the Garda Special Detective Unit with assistance from a Defence Forces EOD team, which is still examining the scene. Gardaí described the arrests as part of a long-standing investigation and said no further details would be released until the examination is complete.
- 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 Co Louth.
- Where
- The operation took place in Co Louth.
- When
- The arrests and search took place on 23 October 2026.
- Investigation
- The operation was carried out by the Garda Special Detective Unit, the counter-terrorism unit, as part of a long-standing investigation.
- A Defence Forces Explosive Ordnance Disposal team assisted the search and is carrying out an examination at the scene.
- The two men, one in his 50s and one in his 20s, are detained at Garda stations in the north-east of the country.
- Charges
- Both men are detained under the Offences Against the State Act, 1939.
- Other details
- The Garda Commissioner said he had been in contact with the PSNI Chief Constable about co-operation on countering dissident groups.
- No further information about the nature of the operation or the circumstances surrounding the arrests has been released.
14 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 in the search. (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 Defence Forces Explosive Ordnance Disposal team assisted the search. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe operation was carried out by the Garda counter-terrorism unit, the Special Detective Unit. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe Garda Commissioner said he had been in contact with the PSNI Chief Constable about co-operation on countering dissident groups. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe two people are detained under the Offences Against the State Act. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtBoth men are being detained at Garda stations in the northeast 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)
- otherOne man is in his 50s and the other is in his 20s. (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