Dissidents blamed for Keady bomb
Dissident republicans are being blamed for abandoning a mortar bomb close to Keady police station in County Armagh.
Davis Street in the village remains sealed off as forensic officers and police continue to examine the abandoned van the viable device was found in early on Friday morning.
Police have said there was a genuine concern that the van had been abandoned to lure officers into an even more deadly attack.
“It could have caused major devastation within the area,” said Newry and Armagh Sinn Fein MLA Cathal Boylan.
“Given that the police station is in a residential area – this has caused major disruption to both residents and shop owners and to traffic flow in and around Keady today.”
Although the device was made safe and removed by army bomb experts, the area is likely to stay closed overnight as more forensic tests are carried out.
Several people who live in the immediate area have been evacuated from their homes and have had to spend the evening elsewhere. The community centre has been opened for people who have nowhere else to go.
Some residents have said the police were slow to respond to the alert.
Local DUP MLA William Irwin said: “From what I have learned this was a viable Mk10 mortar type device and if that is the case, then why it was left for such a long period of time before being cordoned off?
“This is something that concerns me greatly.”
Responding to criticisms, Area Commander Chief Inspector Ken Mawhinney said: “I am aware of some concerns within the community about our response to this incident, but I would like to reassure the people of Keady that an investigation was initiated and enquiries undertaken as soon as we received the initial report of this van.
“As with all such incidents we have to consider the safety, not only of the community, but also of my officers.
“Unfortunately experience has demonstrated that criminal terrorist elements have used the cover of similar incidents to lure police into this area with the express intention of murdering police officers.”
‘Reckless’
He added: “Yet again a small group of criminal cowards have achieved nothing more than disruption and inconvenience for local people.
“This device had the potential to cause death or serious injury and those responsible have shown a reckless and callous disregard for the people of Keady.”
Mayor of Armagh Thomas O’Hanlon has condemned those responsible.
“This junction is a busy cross-border route and it is not acceptable that cars are driving past what is a potential security risk. I also believe that a car has been found burnt out at Derrynoose which may be linked to this incident,” he said.
“Those responsible for this incident are continuing to disrupt and obstruct the daily lives of law-abiding citizens of the north. Whoever is responsible and whatever their misguiding actions are, a united Ireland will not be achieved by abandoning a van outside an empty police station.”
Ulster Unionist deputy leader and local MLA Danny Kennedy said it was fortunate no one had been injured in the attack.
“Mortar devices are very unpredictable and it’s clear that with houses so close that this attack posed danger, not only to police officers inside Keady station, but also to those people who live adjacent to it.
“It’s utterly reckless and completely unacceptable.”
Road closures in the Keady area are likely to remain in place for some time, a police spokesperson said.
