Gardaí and army bomb disposal experts are investigating after a suspect device was defused near the Aughinish Alumina factory in County Limerick.
Image credit: alustory.international-aluminium.org
The device, found yesterday afternoon close to an oil tank at the facility, prompted a major operation involving the Defence Forces’ Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit. Controlled detonations were carried out to sever key components from gas cylinders, preserving significant forensic evidence for investigators.
Gardaí were alerted to the device at approximately 3:30 pm, with the operation beginning shortly after 4 pm. A cordon was established, and the EOD team removed the device from the scene for further examination. Investigations are now underway to trace the origin of the device’s components and identify potential forensic links to the perpetrator.
Sources suggest the incident may be connected to a similar alert at an industrial services unit near the Irish border with Northern Ireland.
The Aughinish Alumina site, owned by Russian metals giant Rusal, has been vandalised several times in recent years, including a 2022 paint attack. It remains unclear if these past incidents are related to the current investigation. The facility is a major employer in the region, with around 450 staff on its 222-hectare site.
Rusal, co-founded by Oleg Deripaska, an oligarch sanctioned by the US in 2018 and the UK in 2022 for ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, has remained under scrutiny since Russia invaded Ukraine.
A Defence Forces spokesperson declined to comment, citing the ongoing operation. Gardaí confirmed in a statement that investigations are continuing.
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