North Dublin criminal gang behind closure of motorway last night

A North Dublin criminal gang are behind the two suspected pipe bombs and a fully-loaded glock found by Gardai last night.

The gang  headed up by a well-known criminal ordered the explosives and loaded gun to be transported to them in Dublin.

However, their plans were foiled after the car transporting the gun and bombs was stopped on the M7 motorway, en route to the capital.

The discovery was made shortly before 6p.m. last night when the vehicle was pulled over and searched near Mountrath in Co Laois.

A man aged in his forties and a second man, in his late teens, were arrested at the scene.

Both men, believed to be Polish nationals, are currently detained under section 30 of the Offences against the State Act, 1939 at Portlaoise Garda Station.

They can be held for up to 72 hours.

Upon making the discovery, the motorway was immediately shut and the scene was preserved.

An Army Bomb Disposal Unit was soon dispatched to the scene to make it safe.

An examination of the devices will be conducted to determine if they were viable.