The 32 County Sovereignty Movement (32CSM) has launched a campaign to attract new recruits by putting up posters in various areas around the city and posting recruitment notices on its website.

The move has sparked concerns that some of the prospective recruits to the 32CSM could end up in the Real IRA. Security sources believe the two organisations are linked - a claim denied by the 32CSM.

The 32CSM is listed as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation in the US because of its apparent links to the Real IRA. In April this year, masked members of the Real IRA in military dress appeared at an Easter commemoration organised by the 32CSM and delivered a veiled threat to Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness.

In recent weeks the Real IRA has become more active in Derry and it claimed responsibility for planting explosive devices under cars belonging to family members of a PSNI officer in the Shantallow and Hatmore areas of the city.