BRITAIN: Dissident republicans are threatening a new offensive to hit Britain as the general election nears, according to British government security sources.
Senior civil servants have been warned of possible strikes by members of dissident republican groups, such as the 'Real IRA', responsible for the Omagh bomb outrage in 1998.
As the UK prepares for next month's poll, a secret memo has been issued by security chiefs in London who fear the 'Real IRA' or Continuity IRA could be heading the new offensive.
Dissident groups are now at work planning to plant bombs or detonate incendiary devices, according to leaked information.
A memo, circulated to selected security staff at government installations, including the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), the intelligence and security organisation which works with MI5 and MI6, warns of a "substantial" threat from Irish terrorists.
The memo, headed "Restricted Information" reads: "Dissident threat to the UK mainland."
It continues: "Reporting indicates that Irish republican dissidents are currently planning to mount attacks on the UK mainland. Incendiary and small IED [ improvised explosive devices] attacks have featured prominently in recent dissident republican campaigns in Northern Ireland, as have postal devices and shooting attacks.
"Hoax calls have been made to amplify the disruptive effect of such attacks . . . The threat from dissident Irish republicans in the UK mainland is therefore assessed to be: Substantial Level 3."
The Independent Monitoring Commission claims that, although paramilitary violence has considerably reduced, the threat remains at a high level.
Dr Bill Smith, a terrorism expert and senior research fellow at Queen's University Belfast, said: "I think people in the security services have been warning of this for some time. It is a continuing risk in the background, and the longer that there is a failure to solve the political crisis, the more likely something like this could happen."
He added: "It is really a matter of whether it suits them or promotes their objectives. But the calling of a general election is an event that gives them an opportunity to attract publicity."
A Home Office spokesman said: "We cannot comment on leaked documents." - (PA)