It is understood the explosive device contained suspected military-grade bombs
A woman in her 20s has been charged after an "extremely significant" car bomb was intercepted by police near the Irish border earlier today.
Two people were arrested after the vehicle was stopped on the N2 near Carrickmacross, County Monaghan, at about 3pm on Wednesday, including a woman in her 20s and a man in his 40s.
The car was stopped as part of an intelligence-led swoop, with members of the Garda's Special Detective Unit stopping the vehicle.
The woman, who was driving the car, is due to appear before a special sitting of Trim District Court in Co Meath later this evening.
The bomb had been completed and was ready to use, Irish broadcaster RTÉ reported.
Upon discovering the explosive, Garda requested the assistance of the Irish Defence Forces Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team who examined the vehicle.
The assessment's outcome was kept confidential for operational reasons.
It is understood the explosive device contained suspected military-grade bombs.
Official sources said the bomb was "highly sophisticated" and "advanced".
The second man who was arrested remains in custody at a Garda station in the Dublin area.
Speaking in Co Tipperary earlier today, Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly said: "To be clear, what we found was an extremely significant seizure.
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The commissioner added: "Any seizure of this nature is really concerning.
"However, we certainly know that there are a small minority of dissident republicans who did not agree with the Good Friday Agreement.
"They did not put weapons and explosives (out of use), they didn’t, you know, go through with the proper process in relation to decommissioning.
"There’s a small minority of these individuals – I would describe them as radicalised republicans – and this is a threat that we’re going to continue to face for some time in An Garda Síochána."
Meanwhile, Ireland’s Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan said the incident was "very worrying".
"I think it evidences the fact that there is an ongoing threat in respect of dissident republican activity," he said.
"But I also know that there’s been great co-operation between the PSNI and An Garda Síochána and, I think, I suppose the developments recently and the work of An Garda Síochána indicate the benefits of having that close co-operation between the PSNI and An Garda Síochána."
