The discovery of commercial explosives and detonators in Dublin last night has been described as "highly significant" by gardaí.
More than 5kg of TNT plastic explosives, detonators and other military grade items were seized after armed gardaí stopped a taxi in Dublin.
Two men, aged 21 and 28, arrested at the scene have had their period of detention extended.
The seizure was the result of an ongoing surveillance and intelligence-led investigation into dissident republican activity.
In a follow up search that took place in Dublin yesterday, a third man, aged 55, was also arrested.
All three men remain in custody.
The operation began after gardaí from the Emergency Response Unit and the Special Detective Unit stopped a seven-seater taxi on Spring Garden Street, Ballybough in Dublin, at 6pm yesterday.
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TNT plastic explosives, detonators in boxes and another commercially manufactured explosive item, which may be a mine or a grenade, were discovered in the car.
Nearby houses were evacuated as an Army Bomb Disposal team worked for over three hours to make the area safe and residents were allowed back into their homes at 11pm.
The Defence Forces said the explosive material is being analysed before it is handed over as evidence to gardaí.
Detectives said the discovery is highly significant and indicates that dissident groups, such as the new IRA, have now found new sources for commercial explosives, which previously had been removed from IRA dumps.
They believe the material was destined for use in attacks in Northern Ireland.
Gardaí also believe the incident is not related to the ongoing feud between the Hutch and Kinahan crime gangs.
