Disarmed Suspicious Device Near Aughinish Alumina Refinery Sparks Investigation

Published: Jul 13, 2025 23:49

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Following the disarmament of a suspicious device near the Aughinish Alumina Refinery in County Limerick, police and army bomb disposal experts are conducting an investigation.

The discovery of the device near a fuel tank at the facility yesterday afternoon sparked a large-scale operation involving the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team of the Defence Forces. A controlled explosion was carried out to sever the connection between a critical component and a gas cylinder, preserving crucial physical evidence for investigators.

Police received reports of the device at approximately 3:30 p.m. and initiated the operation around 4 p.m. A cordon was established, and the EOD team removed the device from the scene for further examination. An investigation is currently underway to trace the origin of the device components and identify potential forensic links to criminals.

Sources suggest that the incident may be related to a similar alert at an industrial services unit near the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland.

The Aughinish Alumina Refinery, owned by Russian metals giant Rusal, has been targeted multiple times in recent years, including a paint-spraying attack in 2022. It remains unclear whether these past incidents are connected to the current investigation. The facility is a significant employer in the region, with approximately 450 employees on its 222-hectare site.

Rusal, co-founded by oligarch Oleg Deripaska, who was sanctioned by the US in 2018 and the UK in 2

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