Security and intelligence officials have issued warnings regarding an alleged plot by the New IRA to launch a violent campaign aimed at driving migrants out of Ireland.
The threat has sparked significant concern across the UK and the Republic of Ireland, as authorities fear the paramilitary group is actively exploiting escalating tensions over immigration on both sides of the Irish border .
According to security sources, the New IRA—a republican paramilitary group that succeeded the Real IRA—is attempting to capitalize on local grievances fueled by recent incidents of violence. Tensions have been particularly high since a stabbing incident in June, where an Irish man was allegedly attacked by an asylum seeker from Sudan, an event that served as a catalyst for subsequent riots in Belfast .
The situation escalated last week when a video surfaced on social media featuring an unidentified individual claiming to speak on behalf of the IRA. In the footage, the man issued a direct ultimatum, stating that the threat was not directed at politicians, but specifically at migrants residing in the country without legal status. The individual threatened that the group would “take control” and initiate a “civil war,” reportedly planning to give targeted individuals 24 hours to leave the territory. The speaker also referenced the historical effectiveness of the IRA during the Troubles as a warning of their capabilities .
Security officials have expressed deep concern over the potential fallout of such a campaign. Authorities fear that beyond the immediate threat of violence, an organized paramilitary effort to expel migrants could trigger a mass displacement, pushing a fresh wave of individuals across the open border from the Republic of Ireland into Northern Ireland and the wider UK .
The New IRA was formed in 2012 following a merger between the Real IRA—which originally splintered from the Provisional IRA in 1997—and the vigilante group Republican Action Against Drugs . Recent intelligence also suggests that the organization has been building links with certain Scottish nationalist factions in Glasgow, which have purportedly assisted in promoting the group’s messaging across social media networks .
Authorities on both sides of the border are reportedly treating the threats with high seriousness, given the historical context of paramilitary violence and the organization’s proven willingness to employ extreme measures . Security agencies remain on high alert as they monitor the situation and assess the credibility of the newly issued ultimatums.
