There are two ideas on this one.
The first is that the C-IRA planned this along with the R-IRA and they are working close on this and trying to show that this is bigger than one group. (Although they both have very little support even amongst Republicans.)
The second is that they want to get in on the act to prove they are as “relevant” as the R-IRA.
In any case the community of dissidents is so small - there is an estimate of around 60 willing to kill - that they will all know each other and are essentially the same ideology.
Now that you mention it, weren’t they suspected of working together to get weapons out of the Balkans following all wars there?
TBH, it’s been quite awhile since I’ve kept up with either organization because it seemed they’d been rather marginalized. I know both groups have attempted attacks in the past decade or so, but they’ve all seemed rather sloppy (luckily). That would be a good reason for them to start collaborating on attacks.
Plus, if you combine all the weapons the RIRA got from the Provos after decommisioning with the weapons and the people of the CIRA, you’d have a more lethal operation.
Ugh, it just breaks my heart that this is happening again. I really hope they nip it in the bud quickly.
Ironically, I suggested Fifty Dead Men Walking for my bookclub this time, b/c the movie is going to be released in the US this year. I’m supposed to talk about how much things have changed in the Province since that book takes place.