SIX PEOPLE were arrested on Thursday (Nov 15) in connection with the car bomb that exploded in The Mall, Ealing in August.

Armed police swooped on an address in north London at dawn and arrested five men who were taken to Paddington Green police station for questioning. A sixth man was arrested in Liverpool.

Police will question those arrested about an 18-month terrorist bombing campaign waged by the Real IRA on the UK mainland. Several of the attacks took place in west London, leading to speculation that a Real IRA cell was based there.

Other incidents being linked with the Real IRA are the discovery of a bomb at Hammersmith Bridge, an attack on a railway line near Ealing Broadway, an attack on MI6 headquarters at Vauxhall with a rocket-propelled grenade launcher and a taxi blast at the BBC offices at White City. Further raids are expected today.

Several of the attacks took place in west London, leading to speculation that a Real IRA cell was based there. Detectives have also warned recently that the dissident group, whose most notorious atrocity was the Omagh bombing, must not be forgotten in the wake of 11 September.