THERE WERE MORE arrests over terrorism offences in Ireland than almost anywhere else in the EU last year, according to a new report.

Some 62 terror suspects were taken into custody in the Republic – more than ten per cent of the European total. They included 57 people suspected of republican paramilitary activity and five in relation to Islamic militancy, Europol’s EU Terrorism and Trend Report reveals. The five Islamic terrorism arrests  came after an alleged plot to murder Swedish cartoonist Lars Vilks, who drew a controversial image of the prophet Muhammad, was uncovered in Ireland in March 2010.

Only Spain and France made more arrests in 2010, though the numbers there were far greater. France arrested 219 people and Spain 118, while in fourth place the UK figure was 45. Ireland’s figures were almost double the previous year, when only 33 suspects were taken into custody.

The main other findings of the report were:

• There were a total of 249 terrorist attacks carried out across the EU, with 40 perpetrated by terrorist groups based in Northern Ireland and the Republic.
• The Real IRA and Continuity IRA “continue to pose a threat” in the UK, and have grown in size and capability in recent years.
• Ireland has a mostly successful record for prosecuting terrorism offences, with 83 per cent of cases resulting in conviction. However, the average jail penalty of five years is below the EU average.
• The report noted that Ireland had successfully implement an EU directive on money laundering, designed to restrict financing of terrorism.
• A total of 179 people were arrested in Europe on suspicion of Islamic terrorism. This was a 50 per cent increase on the previous year, and almost half the arrests were made over planned attacks on EU countries.
• The report warned that continued political unrest in North Africa could shake up al-Qaeda affiliates and lead to them establishing a greater presence in Europe. It also stated that most of the suspects arrested over alleged Islamic terrorism were acting alone or autonomously – meaning there is no single network or organisation which can be targeted.

Europol is the EU’s criminal intelligence agency, which works with law enforcement organisations across all member states.