Hardline republicans in Derry have warned that some of the recently emerging republican groups in the city could be acting on behalf of British intelligence.
Late last year, a group emerged in the Waterside calling itself Concerned Republicans Against Drugs (CRAD).
Last month, a group calling itself Community Action Against Drugs (CAAD) threatened a number of young people who they accused of involveme
nt in the drugs trade. Another group calling itself Republican Action Against Drugs (RAAD) made similar threats. Last week, a group calling itself the Bogside Republican Action Group (BRAG) threatened traffic wardens and TV licence inspectors.
The 32 County Sovereignty Movement - believed to be linked to the Real IRA - have claimed some of the new groups may have been created by British intelligence.
"Although the intentions of some of these people may be genuine or honourable there is fear within republicanism that one of these groups may be a pseudo group who are infact working for British intelligence," a 32CSM spokesperson said.
The spokesperson also said these groups could be directed to discredit republicanism.
"Some of these groups have almost been lauded by the British media and groups like the IMC which raises the concern that the Brits are trying to give credibility to what may in fact be one of their own creations. There is a real concern that civilians may be killed in some action which will in turn be invariably blamed on what the British media call 'dissident republicans'," the 32CSM said.
