Biden arrives in troubled Northern Ireland and finds pipe bombs

US President Joe Biden arrived in Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland. Biden is making a four-day visit to Northern Ireland and Ireland to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement that ended the feud between Catholics and Protestants in 1998. Biden was received by British Prime Minister Sunak.

There is turbulence in Northern Ireland right now and police fear possible attacks and violence. Police said they found four “suspicious pipe bombs” in a cemetery 60 miles from Belfast today. Pipe bombs have also been used in the past by militant movements in Northern Ireland. Police Chief Bobby Singleton described the finding as “an ominous and disturbing development”.

Police are linking the find to an attack in Londonderry (called Derry by Catholics) yesterday. During an unannounced protest march by pro-Irish nationalists against the Good Friday Agreement, masked demonstrators threw Molotov cocktails at a police car, among other things. Police said the attackers burned their clothes where the pipe bombs were found.

Police it rained again today in a different location. There were no injuries, while two vehicles were damaged.

Severe Threat Level

British security service MI5 had raised the domestic terror threat in Northern Ireland to “severe” two weeks ago. This means that an attack is “very likely”. The security service did not associate this with the 25-year Good Friday Agreement ceasefire or the celebration of Biden’s visit.

Amid rising unrest, the US President had previously said this would not prevent him from visiting Northern Ireland. “You can’t keep me away,” she said.

Many roads around Belfast were closed to traffic due to Biden’s visit.

Source: NOS

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