Officers hunt for Semtex at Northern Ireland's top security prison
Hundreds of prison officers and specialist police search teams are involved in an operation at Maghaberry Prison which began yesterday morning. Prisoners remained locked in their cells throughout yesterday while the search was conducted.
The search of the Category A prison is expected to continue throughout today and could continue over the weekend.
In a statement new Governor Steve Rodford said the search was designed to safeguard the lives of prisoners, staff and visitors to the Co Antrim jail.
But prison officers say the primary objective of the search is to recover a small quantity of Semtex explosive and other bomb component parts believed to have been smuggled into the prison over the summer.
Unconfirmed reports say that traces of a chemical used in the manufacture of Semtex was found at up to 15 locations around the prison including in two residential houses and on two chairs in the visitors’ area.
The Prison Service confirmed yesterday that on Wednesday evening the day shift of prison officers was searched before they were allowed to leave Maghaberry to go home.
Boots and tunics were removed and searched and officers were padded down to check if any contraband was being smuggled out of the jail.
A mixture of law, politics, autobiography and humour. Once described as "The Devilish Advocate" (Guardian), I do have the ability to provoke a response. Sometimes it comes from someone who uses a thought process, and sometimes from jerks usually associated with the knee.
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