Last week, MI5 raised the terror level in Northern Ireland to “severe”. Now the country’s police are warning of possible terrorist attacks during the Easter weekend. The warning comes just days before US President Joe Biden is due to visit the country. Police in Northern Ireland are warning of possible terrorist attacks during the Easter weekend, The Guardian reports. Northern Ireland police say they have received intelligence that armed republicans are planning terrorist attacks against police this coming weekend. The warning is issued ahead of the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, which takes place on Monday. Chief Constable Simon Byrne says there are “exceptional conditions” ahead of the bank holiday and a large number of police have been deployed to deal with any disturbances. On Monday, smaller groups of republican defectors who support an armed struggle in the Northern Ireland conflict are expected to demonstrate in the city of Derry. The police have warned that violence may break out in connection with the protests. Biggest security arrangement in ten years At the end of March, the British intelligence service MI5 raised the terror level in the country to “serious”, which means that terrorist acts can be considered probable. Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) says that the unrest in the country is not due to the political uncertainty that has prevailed for the past year. The Parliament of Northern Ireland (often referred to as Stormont) is, according to The Guardian, in a “deadlock” after the DUP withdrew from government in protest against trade deals after Brexit. – The idea that evil men and women who go out to kill are reacting to the political situation does not add up, he told the BBC on Friday. On Tuesday, US President Joe Biden will visit Belfast and Northern Ireland to commemorate the 25th anniversary. Deputy Chief Constable Chris Todd says the visit will require a security arrangement on a scale not seen since the G8 summit in the country in 2013. Watch more in the player above.
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