A number of arrests have been made in connection with dissident republican activity.

Police searched a number of properties in the Lurgan area on Tuesday, 20 September.

DUP MLA Carla Lockhart said: "Nobody wants to see terrorist activity here and this operation in North Lurgan has once again thwarted the aims of those groups who want to drag Northern Ireland back into the past. Dissident activity has no place in this community.

"I urge anyone with any information linked to these searches or dissident republican activity to contact the police."

UUP's Upper Bann MLA, Doug Beattie MC, said: "I must commend the PSNI for their intelligence led searches in Lurgan in respect to dissident republican activity. These searches highlight the proactive approach the PSNI have in disrupting this type of activity.

"I think the people of Lurgan, from all communities, have suffered enough with security alerts, terrorist parades and disruption to their everyday lives which is now becoming increasingly all too common. It is absolutely clear that those who see themselves as career terrorists - but who are in fact nothing more than career criminals - care not a jot for the people of Lurgan or wider Northern Ireland society. If they did they would cease their activities immediately and let people live their lives and focus on those things that matter - healthcare, employment and education.

"The PSNI do a difficult job and I have nothing but respect for the way they go about their business."

(CD)