Members of the Garda Armed Support Unit. RollingNews.ie photo.
By Evan Short
One of the men who took part in the London terror attack on Saturday night, which killed seven people and injured 48, was carrying an Irish identity card.
Gardaí have confirmed that the man, identified in reports as Rachid Redouane, had lived in Ireland for some time. Reports have stated that he lived in Rathmines, Dublin and did so up until the end of last year.
Originally from Morocco, it has been reported that he was married to a Scottish woman while living in Dublin.
Officers from the Garda National Immigration Bureau are checking his status in Ireland. It is not known if he came to their attention while living in Ireland.
The man was shot dead by police along with two other attackers after they drove their van into pedestrians on London Bridge on Saturday night before stabbing customers in the nearby Borough Market area which was crammed with people enjoying an evening out.
Gardaí are working closely with British police following the events in London which began shortly after ten o’clock on Saturday night when bars and restaurants were full.
This was the second terror attack in England in less than two weeks.
On May 22 suicide bomber Salman Ramadan Abedi (22) blew himself up as people were leaving an Ariana Grande concert at the Manchester Arena, killing 23 adults and children and injuring 119.
Back in March, four people died and more than 50 were injured when 52-year-old Khalid Masood drove a car into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge in London. The attacker then ran towards the Houses of Parliament stabbing a police officer to death.
In Ireland, the threat assessment level for a terror attack is currently moderate. This means that an attack is possible, but considered unlikely.
In a statement the Department of Justice in Dublin said: “Clearly, awful attacks like the one in London and others that have taken place elsewhere focus attention on any other measure that might be taken to prevent such atrocities. The authorities here are taking and will take all necessary and appropriate measures to counteract the threat.
“The Gardaí have in place appropriate operational measures in terms of intelligence, a well-trained and equipped special intervention capability and other national support resources.
“They are supported in this, as needed, by the considerable skills and resources on the Defence Forces.
“The Garda Authorities also work very closely with their international counterparts, particularly in Britain and Northern Ireland, in counteracting this threat both in terms of providing support in ongoing investigations and in ongoing mutual cooperation with other international partners.”
Previous reports prompted by jihadist terror attacks in Europe have indicated that as many as forty individuals are being kept under surveillance by Irish security authorities.
