New breed of terrorist emerging after Lyra McKee killing, PSNI warns

A new breed of terrorist is coming through the ranks in Northern Ireland, the detective leading the hunt for Lyra McKee’s killers said.

Police have arrested two teenagers who they suspect are members of the dissident republican New IRA and were involved in shooting dead the promising young journalist in Londonderry.

Police Service of Northern Ireland detective superintendent Jason Murphy said terrorists were lurking in the shadows.

“What we are seeing is a new breed of terrorist coming through the ranks and that for me is a very worrying situation.”

He said there had been a sea change in community attitudes and that was demonstrated in the revulsion expressed by many at Thursday evening’s killing.

A gunman aiming to kill police shot Ms McKee in the head after he fired indiscriminately during disturbances in the Creggan estate.

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