Updated at 7.15pm

TWO PEOPLE HAVE been arrested in Waterford on suspicion of having links to international terrorism.

Gardaí said they had arrested two people as part of an operation in Waterford city this morning.

The people were arrested on suspicion of having committed offences under the Criminal Justice Terrorist Offences Act, 2005.

Sources said that the arrests were made in relation to Section 6 of the Act, which deals mainly with facilitating or being involved with terrorist activities outside of the State.

A man and a woman both aged in their 20s were arrested. It is believed the man is an Irish citizen and the woman is from the UK.

Sources confirmed that the pair have links to terrorism activities in the Middle East, and have been watched by police in various jurisdictions.

They are thought to have been arrested on suspicion of organising financial aid to benefit a terrorist organisation. It is believed gardaí were tipped off by international police to their presence here when they returned from abroad.

Gardaí said the arrests were part of an ongoing intelligence-led operation into persons involved in suspected terrorist activity.

Both persons were taken to Waterford Garda Station and are detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.

With reporting from Garreth MacNamee