Five people with alleged links to dissident republicanism have appeared in court in Scotland charged with terrorism offences and conspiracy to murder.
Anton Duffy, Martin Hughes and Stacy McAllister, from Glasgow, Paul Sands, from Ayr, and Edward McVeigh, from Portpatrick, Dumfries and Galloway, were arrested last Wednesday in an operation led by Police Scotland and involving the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the security service.
Duffy, 39, Hughes, 34, Sands, 30, McVeigh, 26, and McAllister, 27, appeared separately in private at Glasgow Sheriff Court today and were charged under section five of the Terrorism Act, which covers the preparation of terrorist acts, and conspiracy to murder.
All five made no plea or declaration and they were remanded in custody.
Following the arrests, Police Scotland said the operation focused on the “activities of individuals sympathetic to dissident republicanism but who are not affiliated to any specific group”.
The court appearances came amid heightened security with armed officers in and outside the court building.
The five had been held at the Scottish Terrorist Detention Centre in the Govan area of Glasgow and were brought to court in a police convoy.
PA