Hundreds Of Civilians Living Under Dissident Threat

Civilians working for the Northern Ireland Policing Board are living under threat from dissident republicans, it has been revealed. Workers, who provide technical support to the PSNI, and man security points at police stations, have been told their lives are in danger.

Hundreds of Policing Board employees across the province are now deemed to be under a "substantial" risk from Real and Continuity IRA elements, according to security sources.

The civilian targets include those who guard stations and complete maintenance work to vital communications equipment.

It has been suggested the two dissident elements are now working together more strategically, sharing intelligence on targets and exchanging attack techniques.

One source told the Belfast Telegraph: "The latest intelligence information shows the two main dissident elements coming together to the extent that in some areas it is difficult to define who is with what group.

"They are liaising more than ever before and it's suspected that they are exchanging bits and pieces of kit to help each other.

"The threat from the two elements overall is assessed as substantial and more workers engaged on contracts for the Policing Board are now in the firing line," they added.

Violence that erupted in Armagh last week is being attributed to dissident factions.

A bus and van were high-jacked during the disturbances, which followed the arrest of two suspected terrorists in the area.

(PR/JM)