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Man arrested after PSNI data breach released on bail

The 39-year-old man had been detained following a search in Lurgan, Co Armagh yesterday (File image))
The 39-year-old man had been detained following a search in Lurgan, Co Armagh yesterday (File image))

A man arrested by detectives investigating criminality linked to last week's major PSNI data breach has been released on bail to allow for further police inquiries.

The 39-year-old man had been detained following a search in Lurgan, Co Armagh yesterday.

He had been questioned on suspicion of collection of information likely to be of use to terrorists.

Last week, the PSNI revealed a document had mistakenly been shared online in response to a Freedom Of Information request, which included the names of about 10,000 officers and staff.

Details released included the surname and first initial of every employee, their rank or grade, where they are based and the unit they work in.

This week, PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne said he believed the information was in the hands of dissident republicans.

It followed the posting of documents from the leak on a wall near a Sinn Féin office in Belfast.

Many officers have expressed concern for their safety in Northern Ireland, where police are under threat from terrorists - with the current level of threat assessed as severe, meaning an attack is highly likely.