The three suspected IRA members in Colombia have been moved to a high-security jail because of fears for their safety. A spokesman for the nation's prison system said the authorities transferred Niall Connolly, Martin McAuley and James Martin last night from La Modelo federal prison to a jail run by the country's judicial police force in the capital, Bogota.
One of Mr Connolly's lawyers said an explosive was tossed into their cell and that there was a "paramilitary plan" to kill them. Prison officials have denied the trio were attacked or that there is a plot against them.
"The three Irishmen were transferred as a precaution. Their cell in La Modelo is next to a wing where there are right-wing paramilitary inmates," a prison spokesman said.
The men have been charged with training Marxist rebels and carrying false passports. They were arrested at Bogota airport on 13 August. Fears for their safety have been expressed since they were sent to La Modelo.
Colombia's prisons are notoriously violent and clashes between imprisoned guerrillas and their right-wing paramilitary foes are common. In July, ten inmates were killed and 15 were injured in a gun battle inside La Modelo.
