Parcel bomb sent to Celtic boss
A major police investigation is underway after parcel bombs were sent to Celtic manager Neil Lennon, a lawyer and a politician, Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond has confirmed.
The parcels, which Strathclyde Police say were “designed to cause harm”, were sent to Lurgan-born Lennon, Paul McBride QC – who has represented Lennon at Hampden during his dispute with the SFA – and Labour politician Trish Godman.
The packages were intercepted in March and April.
They were initially thought to be hoax packages but analysis has revealed that they were viable.
Mr Salmond said: “Let us be quite clear – there is a major police investigation under way to ensure that the individual or individuals concerned are identified and apprehended, and then brought to book with the full force of the law.
“We will not tolerate this sort of criminality in Scotland, and as an indication of the seriousness with which we view these developments the Cabinet sub-committee met last Saturday to ensure that the police investigation has every possible support to come to a successful conclusion. We are confident that this will be the case.
“It is time to remember what we value in society, and unite to condemn those who use football as a pretext for their pathetic and dangerous prejudices.”
It is understood police have now offered safety advice to the intended recipients of the packages as well as to Royal Mail staff and workers in the mail room at Celtic.
Earlier this year packages containing bullets were sent to Lennon and to Celtic players Paddy McCourt and Niall McGinn, all of whom are from Northern Ireland.
