Londonderry: Guns and ammunition found in Ballymagroarty search

A gun was recovered in the search in Derry

Guns and ammunition have been found during an investigation into the republican dissident group the New IRA, the police have said.

The firearm, a silencer and a quantity of ammunition were discovered during searches in Ballymagroarty on Tuesday.

Component parts of pipe bombs and other improvised devices were also found.

Two men, aged 36 and 59, who were arrested have since been released, pending a report to the Public Prosecution Service.

The police said the weapons would have been used to kill or injure officers.

The haul was found in the Ballymagroarty area of the city

A police spokesperson said the seizure was "hugely significant".

"We believe these would have been used in a violent attack on police with the aim of killing or, at the very least, causing serious injury," said the spokesperson.

"The fact that these items were found in a residential area also underlines the recklessness of those involved.

"It also shows the utter contempt they have for their own communities.

"No community deserves to live under this threat."

Bullets were among the items seized by police

The New IRA is thought to be the largest and the most active of the armed groups that oppose the peace process in Northern Ireland.

"Violent dissident republicans are immersed in a campaign to kill police," said the police spokesperson.

Detectives want anyone who has information about the weapons to contact them.