The British government has announced a freeze on the assets of the Irish nationalist group „New Irish Republican Army“ („New IRA“) and an individual associated with it, indicating that it has grounds to suspect terrorist activity, Reuters reports, BTA reports.
According to the Treasury's economic secretary Lucy Rigby, this is only the second case of the application of the domestic anti-terrorism regime aimed at threats related to Northern Ireland. She stressed that the sanctions taken reflect the government's determination to protect the peaceful consensus reached by society in the region.
„New IRA“ remains one of the few armed groups that oppose the peace agreement since 1998 and has been responsible for periodic attacks in recent years, including the murder of journalist Lyra McKee in 2019.
The government has also imposed sanctions on Kieran Gallagher, prohibiting him from being a director of companies and from participating - directly or indirectly - in the creation, management or promotion of such structures.