IRA men linked to Colombia massacre

www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk By Chris Thornton

NEW reports claimed today Colombian authorities believe that two IRA members were directly involved in a social club bombing that killed 36 people earlier this month.

Reports citing Colombian security sources said the authorities believe two IRA and four members of the Basque group ETA aided FARC rebels in the attack on February 7 in the South American country's capital, Bogota.

The Colombian government has already said that it believes the car bomb, which also injured 160 people and wrecked the exclusive El Nogal club, used IRA or ETA technology.

They have increasingly emphasised links between the IRA, Eta and FARC during the current trial of three IRA suspects.

The claims of direct IRA involvement in the bombing came just after the arrest of a Farc suspect described as one of the terror group's leading bomb-makers.

Edgar Morea, (36), also known as Javier Tanga, was arrested as he and others were allegedly preparing to blow up bridges linking Bogota to the south of the country.

Morea was linked to the El Nogal blast and a series of other bombings which took place in Bogota.

It was after his arrest that the claims emerged of direct IRA involvement in the car bomb attack.

The security sources claimed that IRA and ETA members slipped into Colombia over the border with Venezuela.

Colombian security sources have emphasised links between the three terror groups as they press the American authorities for more aid in their fight against terrorism.