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Under Attack: Police Foil Terror Plot on Game of Thrones Film Set

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Police in Northern Ireland have foiled a bomb plot targeting former security force members who were working on the film set of TV series Game of Thrones in Belfast.

The planned attack, thought to be organised by Republican terrorists, involved plans to detonate a bomb next to a catering unit at the Paint Hall Titanic Studios, where the former policemen were working on the set of the popular TV show.

It has been reported that the plot was foiled months ago following a tip-off from an informant, which allowed investigators to increase security around the site, eventually leading to the terrorists abandoning the attack.

The Belfast-based Sunday Life newspaper quoted a police source with knowledge of the bomb plot, who said that the terrorists knew that former police officers from Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) worked on the film set.

"The dissidents initially got word that a number of ex-RUC and army personnel worked at the studios," the source was quoted as saying.

"They were even told the exact job in which most of them were employed and the catering unit where they took their lunch and tea at the same time every day."

Security force documents obtained by the paper make mention of the "threat to life involving ex-members of the police and security forces working at Game of Thrones". Meanwhile the document adds: "It cannot be emphasised enough the importance of this information."

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It is thought that the bomb plot was initiated by a small number of dissident republicans, who were working among thousands of people at the Game of Thrones set, operating as either tradesmen or security guards.

Police believe these workers then informed gang leaders that a number of former security officials were employed on the site, which then triggered the terror plans.

Although violence between rival Unionist and Republican groups has settled in recent decades, there are still a number of militia groups in Northern Ireland who are known to target prominent figures from either side in terror attacks.

The revelation of the foiled bomb plot comes after an MI5 undercover operation allegedly recorded members of militia group, the Continuity IRA, planning attacks on Northern Irish police officers and judges.

Game of Thrones, the popular HBO series is filmed at the Paint Hall Titanic Studios in Belfast, along with a number of other films.

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