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Crumlin Road, Belfast: pipe bomb contro i poliziotti “lanciate per uccidere”

PSNI pipe bomb attack ‘designed to kill’

A senior PSNI chief said two young officers could have been killed when two pipe bombs were thrown at them in north Belfast.

Pipe bomb in Crumlin Road, North BelfastThe pair were targeted as they responded to a 999 call in the Crumlin Road area in the early hours of Tuesday.

The officers – both young men – had just got out of their vehicle when two missiles were hurled at them.

The pipe bombs exploded just yards away from their armoured vehicle. The officers were not hurt, but were very shaken.

The attack sparked a security alert in the area and a number of houses were evacuated.

Ballysillan Leisure Centre was opened in the early hours of the morning for residents needing shelter. A heavily pregnant woman and a number of elderly people were among those forced out of their homes.

Chief Inspector Andy Freeburn, Area Commander for north Belfast, said: “This was a blatant attempt to murder our police officers who were out protecting the community.

“It is just sheer good fortune that they were not killed or seriously injured.”

He described the missiles as large, home-made grenade-type devices.

It is still not known if the emergency call was used to lure officers into the area, and police say they are investigating a dissident republican involvement.

Commander Freeburn added the attack would not prevent officers from protecting the public, but added that the threat against police is still severe.

He appealed for anyone who saw suspicious activity or any vehicles that looked out of place in the area at around 2.30am on Tuesday to come forward.

The attack has been widely condemned by politicians.

North Belfast DUP MP Nigel Dodds condemned those responsible as “enemies of society” who must be brought to justice.

He added: “This is a grim reminder of the threat of terrorist attack that the PSNI have to operate under as they respond to emergency calls and protect the community.”

Conall McDevitt MLA, SDLP policing spokesman, said the perpetrators and their actions will be condemned across Ireland.

“They represent nobody and their violence is futile,” he said.

“I appeal to anyone with information that could assist police in bringing those responsible to justice to make sure it is passed on to the PSNI as quickly as possible.”

Ross Hussey, UUP MLA and Policing Board member, said he was “extremely relieved” no officers were injured.

“Once again evil people have sought to target the police force which is charged with protecting and serving the entire community, and once again a local community has had its daily life disrupted, with people having to leave their homes and seek safety in the early hours of the morning,” he said.

“The people of Northern Ireland want nothing to do with the men of violence who still seek to inflict themselves on the wider community.”

Sinn Féin North Belfast MLA Gerry Kelly said those behind the attack are trying to remilitarise Northern Ireland in an attempt to gain support.

“There is no strategy involved, no explanation for what they are attempting to achieve,” he said.

Policing Board Chair Brian Rea said: “This was an attempt to murder police officers and I am grateful that those behind this attack did not succeed. Whilst badly shaken, the officers were not injured and that is the most important thing.

“These officers were responding to a call for assistance and, in luring officers in this way, there was also complete disregard for the safety of people in the community.”

The Crumlin Road reopened on Tuesday evening after it was closed for most of the day.

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René Querin

Di professione grafico e web designer, sono appassionato di trekking e innamorato dell'Irlanda e della sua storia. Insieme ad Andrea Varacalli ho creato e gestisco Les Enfants Terribles.

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