The New IRA, an extremist anti-republican faction reportedly connected to Iran and Hezbollah, has taken responsibility for a car bomb blast outside a police station in Dunmurry, Belfast. They’ve issued a warning about potential further attacks.
The attack specifically targeted the Northern Ireland Police Station, prompting a heightened police presence, especially as this group has threatened to go after officers’ homes.
A 66-year-old man was arrested on terrorism charges on the same day as the explosion, according to reports.
In a statement attributed to an “IRA leader,” the group mentioned that the intention behind the bomb was to kill police officers as they exited the station. The statement also included a warning that any individuals working with police would face “severe punishment.”
A report from 2020 indicated that the New IRA had formed connections with Hezbollah and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), based on information from MI5 informants.
Following a U.S. drone strike that killed Iranian General Qasem Soleimani in 2020, members linked to the group reportedly signed a book of condolences, raising suspicions about potential external support in terms of weaponry and finance.
Andrew Badger, a former Pentagon intelligence officer, noted that the New IRA-Hezbollah relationship is part of a broader collaboration among various state and non-state actors. He emphasized that this network might involve Russia, Iran, China, North Korea, and others.
This emerging “hybrid warfare model,” as described by Badger, is creating a situation where adversaries of Western powers are increasingly sharing tactics across global regions.
The recent bombing follows an attempted car bomb attack on a different police station in Belfast, highlighting a string of violent activities from several extremist groups opposed to the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, all aiming for a united Ireland.
In the past few years, these groups have conducted various attacks against police and security personnel, complicating the challenges for local law enforcement and security services. Badger mentioned that tactics proven effective in one conflict zone could quickly be adopted by rebels in another area.
He concluded by remarking that, while a connection between a Lebanese militia and leftist Irish republicans may have seemed unusual a decade ago, current events indicate a broader pattern, with different actors leveraging shared strategies and tactics.
