Northern Ireland police arrest 2 teens in killing of journalist Lyra McKee

Police in Northern Ireland said Saturday that they arrested two teens in connection with the killing of journalist Lyra McKee, who was shot to death during local riots. 

The police service of Northern Ireland said on Twitter Saturday that authorities arrested two men, ages 18 and 19, under the terrorism act.

Major Investigation Team detectives have arrested two men, aged 18 and 19 under the Terrorism Act, in connection with the murder of Lyra McKee in the Creggan area of Derry on Thursday, 18th April.

They have been taken to Musgrave Serious Crime Suite.

— PSNI DC&S District (@PSNIDCSDistrict) April 20, 2019

Police said they had taken the men to a police station in Belfast, which handles serious investigations. Authorities said the two will be questioned in McKee’s killing.

The agency tweeted previously that it was treating the slaying as a “terrorist incident.”

ACC Mark Hamilton said: “Sadly I can confirm that following shots being fired tonight in Creggan, a 29 year old woman has been killed. We are treating this as a terrorist incident and we have launched a murder enquiry.”

— PSNI DC&S District (@PSNIDCSDistrict) April 18, 2019

Authorities said Friday they were attributing McKee’s killing on Thursday night to a militant group, the New Irish Republican Army.

McKee, 29, was struck by gunfire aimed at police officers Thursday night as law enforcement clashed with protesters in Derry.{mosads}

McKee, a freelance reporter, had written a book detailing disappearances that occurred during The Troubles, a period of civil unrest in Northern Ireland that was marked by bombings and other violent acts. Her work has appeared in BuzzFeed News  and The Atlantic.

She was the first journalist to be killed in Northern Ireland since 2001, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.

McKee campaigned for LGBT rights in Northern Ireland, which does not recognize marriage equality. In 2014, she published a letter to her 14-year-old self, titled “Kid, It’s going to be okay,” where she revealed her struggles with her sexuality.