Two men charged in Ireland in relation to alleged planned far-right terror attack

Irish authorities have charged two men with possession of explosives in relation to an alleged planned terrorist attack by a far-right extremist group.

Karolis Peckauskas, 38, of Drogheda, County Louth, and Garrett Pollock, 35, of Annalong, County Down, Northern Ireland, appeared at Portlaoise district court on Friday after being arrested in a cross-border police operation.

The court heard that police evidence included a video recording in which four masked individuals took responsibility for an attack on a mosque in Galway and threatened future attacks against migrant accommodation in Ireland.

After clearing the court to view the video, Judge Cody said it showed men with balaclavas standing in front of a tricolour and making what he described as a “practice statement” after a terror attack. The men warned that anyone interfering with the group would be a “target”, the judge said.

Police evidence also includes a document described as a “manifesto” for the alleged extremist group.

Pollock is charged with possessing an explosive substance, which relates to components for potential pipe bombs and incendiary devices allegedly found at his home. The Police Service of Northern Ireland carried out the search.

Pollock was also charged, with Peckauskas, of possessing an explosive substance, which was described as four threaded pipe end caps and six litres of hydrogen peroxide, in Portlaoise.

Det Declan O’Connor told the court that it was alleged that Pollock was planning a terrorist attack on behalf of a “rightwing extremist group”.