nastyleg
11-22-2009, 11:41 PM
400lb car bomb goes off outside Northern Ireland's Policing Board
A 400lb bomb partially exploded outside the Policing Board headquarters in Belfast.
Published: 4:43PM GMT 22 Nov 2009
Two men in a car containing the device drove through a barrier at Clarendon Dock, near the offices, at about 7pm on Saturday. The car then appeared to catch fire and the two men ran off.
The attack was blamed on dissident Republicans, who are also thought to have been involved in a gunfight with police at Garrison, County Fermanagh, near the border with the Irish Republic, on Saturday night.
Chief Constable Matt Baggott, of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, said: “We have said from day one that the terrorist situation is severe. We have substantial resources being put into investigating and thwarting these attacks.
“This attack is an attack on the wellbeing of everybody in Northern Ireland, this is not about an attack on policing or the Policing Board, this is an attack on young people and young people’s future.”
Mr Baggott added: “It does appear to be a device that has partially exploded, around 400lb. It is a reckless act not just in doing damage, but also the potential loss of life.”
The Policing Board is made up of independent members of the community and politicians who hold police to account through regular public meetings.
Northern Ireland Secretary Paul Goggins said the attackers were “very clearly trying to undermine the progress that has been made in Northern Ireland in recent years”.
But he said: “When attacks like these happen, it brings people together with the strong message that these dissidents will not succeed.”
Sinn Fein Assembly member Gerry Kelly said the attack “is unacceptable and I condemn it”. “These actions are futile and have no place in advancing republican or democratic objectives,” he said. “These activities need to end.”
Three men were arrested following the exchange of fire in Garrison, in which no one was hurt.
Irish police arrested a fourth man in Dooard, Rossinver in County Leitrim and he was being detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/northernireland/6630265/400lb-car-bomb-goes-off-outside-Northern-Irelands-Policing-Board.html
A 400lb bomb partially exploded outside the Policing Board headquarters in Belfast.
Published: 4:43PM GMT 22 Nov 2009
Two men in a car containing the device drove through a barrier at Clarendon Dock, near the offices, at about 7pm on Saturday. The car then appeared to catch fire and the two men ran off.
The attack was blamed on dissident Republicans, who are also thought to have been involved in a gunfight with police at Garrison, County Fermanagh, near the border with the Irish Republic, on Saturday night.
Chief Constable Matt Baggott, of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, said: “We have said from day one that the terrorist situation is severe. We have substantial resources being put into investigating and thwarting these attacks.
“This attack is an attack on the wellbeing of everybody in Northern Ireland, this is not about an attack on policing or the Policing Board, this is an attack on young people and young people’s future.”
Mr Baggott added: “It does appear to be a device that has partially exploded, around 400lb. It is a reckless act not just in doing damage, but also the potential loss of life.”
The Policing Board is made up of independent members of the community and politicians who hold police to account through regular public meetings.
Northern Ireland Secretary Paul Goggins said the attackers were “very clearly trying to undermine the progress that has been made in Northern Ireland in recent years”.
But he said: “When attacks like these happen, it brings people together with the strong message that these dissidents will not succeed.”
Sinn Fein Assembly member Gerry Kelly said the attack “is unacceptable and I condemn it”. “These actions are futile and have no place in advancing republican or democratic objectives,” he said. “These activities need to end.”
Three men were arrested following the exchange of fire in Garrison, in which no one was hurt.
Irish police arrested a fourth man in Dooard, Rossinver in County Leitrim and he was being detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/northernireland/6630265/400lb-car-bomb-goes-off-outside-Northern-Irelands-Policing-Board.html