Irish police have intercepted a car carrying an "extremely significant" bomb that was en route to Northern Ireland for an attack. The vehicle was stopped on Wednesday near Carrickmacross, County Monaghan, during an operation targeting dissident republican activities.

Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly confirmed the seizure on Friday, describing the explosive device as "extremely significant." The operation has led to the arrest of two people, a woman in her 20s who was driving the vehicle, and a man in his 40s arrested subsequently.

Sources within the Gardaí, Ireland's national police force, indicated to RTÉ that the bomb was equipped with a power unit, a detonator, and military-grade explosives. It is believed to have been intended for use as an under-car bomb in an attack within Northern Ireland.

Commissioner Kelly stated that while any seizure of this nature is concerning, it highlights the ongoing threat posed by a "small minority of radicalised republicans" who did not decommission weapons and explosives following the Good Friday Agreement. He added that this is a threat law enforcement will continue to face.

The vehicle was stopped at approximately 15:00 local time on Wednesday on the N2 road. The discovery prompted a significant police response, though details were only fully disclosed on Friday.

This incident underscores the persistent security challenges associated with dissident republican groups who remain opposed to the peace process established by the Good Friday Agreement.

Authorities are continuing their investigation into the full extent of the plot and the network behind it. The focus remains on preventing further such attempts and disrupting the activities of extremist factions.

The precise target within Northern Ireland has not been disclosed, and investigations are ongoing to ascertain the specific intentions of those involved.