What is the New IRA? Why has the terror threat been raised from Northern Ireland to Great Britain?

Three people have been shot inside 24 hours in West Belfast this week, prompting fears the terror group may be increasing its activities

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has warned that the group's activities appear to be increasing and speculated that this may be partly connected to the centenary anniversary of the Easter Rising (Getty)

MI5 has raised the terrorism threat level from Northern Irish groups towards Great Britain to “substantial” meaning that there is “strong possibility” of an attack happening.

The move was announced by Home Secretary Theresa May in the House of Commons today. It follows a number of attacks in Northern Ireland by dissident Republicans who do not accept the peace process and wish to remove British presence in the region by force.

The new group, which calls itself the IRA, is known as the New IRA locally.

What is the New IRA?

The New IRA is a violent paramilitary group based in Republican districts of west Belfast and having some activity in Dublin. It is formed of dissident Republicans who reject Northern Ireland’s peace process which saw paramilitary groups decommission weapons in order to end The Troubles.

The IRA was disbanded upon decommissioning and has been inactive for several years. However, recent events have seen a new group emerge under the name. The group call themselves ‘the IRA’ and are known in local media and in Northern Irish communities as ‘the New IRA’.

What do they want?

The IRA have historically sought to end British presence in Northern Ireland and for Northern Ireland to leave the UK and re-unite with the Republic of Ireland.

Their motives for emerging now are unclear. Northern Irish police have suggested it may be in part due to raised tensions connected to the centenary anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising which is a core historical event for Republicans. ​

How big are they?

Given the illegal nature of the group, it is difficult to estimate numbers. However, locally there is very little support for the group and the overwhelming majority of people in Northern Ireland are committed to the region’s peace process and strongly oppose any paramilitary groups or violence.​​

What have they done?

Over the last few years a number of incidents have been ascribed to the group, while the number has spiked in recent months. In May, a former IRA commander was executed in front of children outside a primary school in Belfast. In August, another IRA man was killed in what the group call a ‘six pack’, a shot in each elbow, ankle and knee. After the deaths, the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland announced that the IRA still existed despite ceasing to operate following the peace process.

They have also been linked to the death of a man in Dublin last month. At the man’s funeral last week, police arrested fourteen men under terrorism legislation after they allegedly wore paramilitary uniforms in the style of the IRA.

Shortly before Easter, a bomb was placed under the car of a prison officer which detonated as he was traveling to work. He died shortly after.

On Monday, three people in West Belfast were shot within 24 hours, raising concerns that actions may be escalating.

How serious a threat are they?

MI5 say the threat of terrorism in Northern Ireland from Northern Irish groups is “severe”. In Great Britain, they describe the threat as “substantial”.