A car containing a suspected bomb believed to have been bound for an attack in Northern Ireland has been intercepted by Gardaí in County Monaghan.
The device – reported by RTÉ to have been completed and “ready for use” – was discovered after specialist officers from An Garda Síochána’s Special Detective Unit (SDU) stopped a car on the N2 south of Carrickmacross at around 3pm on Wednesday, July 22, 2026.
The operation is understood to be part of an investigation into dissident republican activity and is being treated as a serious cross‑border security threat.
Following the stop, Gardaí requested assistance from the Irish Defence Forces Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team, who carried out a detailed examination of the vehicle at the roadside.
In a statement, Gardaí confirmed the EOD team had completed their work but said the outcome “is not being released for operational reasons”.
A woman in her 20s, understood to have been driving the vehicle, was arrested at the scene and is being detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act 1939 (as amended), which allows for extended questioning in security‑related investigations.
A man in his 40s has since been arrested in connection with the same investigation and is also being held at a Garda station in the Dublin region.
Both remain in custody and investigations are ongoing.
