Two men are due to appear before the Special Criminal Court this evening following the discovery of a “significant amount” of explosives in Dublin.

A number of roads were closed after gardaí discovered the explosives during a search of a car on Spring Garden Street, Ballybough at around 6pm on Friday evening.

The search was undertaken as part of an ongoing investigation into dissident republican activity.

The army’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal team was called to the scene and the recovered plastic explosives and a detonator are being analysed by forensic experts.

Two men – aged 21 and 28 – were arrested following the search and are due to appear before a special sitting of the courts this evening at 7:30pm.

In a follow-up search, a 55-year-old man was also arrested. He has been released without charge and a file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).