Slovakia apologises for explosives find
It has been confirmed that a small quantity of high-grade explosives found today in a Dublin apartment originated in Slovakia and was smuggled into the country as part of a security exercise gone wrong.
The Slovakian government has apologised for the incident and a full investigation is underway.
A Slovakian man in his 40s was arrested but has since been released from custody after the high grade commercial explosives were found earlier today.
It is believed the explosives were planted in the Slovakian man's luggage as he returned home to Dublin last Saturday after the Christmas break.
Some 100g of what is known as RDX explosive - enough to down an airplane - went through the flight undetected.
Police traced the man to an apartment in Dorset St in Dublin city centre.
Adjoining properties had to be evacuated as army bomb experts ensured the device was stable.
A statement from the Department of Justice said that Slovakian authorities had tipped off airport polic to the presence of the explosives.
"Following contact earlier today from the Slovakian authorities with the Airport Police at Dublin Airport, members of the Garda Síochána have recovered a small quantity of explosive material from the luggage of a passenger who had flown into Dublin from that country on Saturday last," the statement said.
"It has since been established that this material was concealed without his knowledge or consent in the passenger's luggage as part of an airport security exercise by the authorities in Slovakia.
"The Slovakian Minister for the Interior has conveyed to Justice Minister Dermot Ahern his Government's profound regret for this incident."
Minister Ahern has asked the Garda Commissioner for a full report on the matter. The Commissioner has informed him that he has appointed a Chief Superintendent to investigate fully the circumstances surrounding the incident.
