Police in Northern Ireland have said they are investigating whether dissident republican group the New IRA are linked to the attempted murder of officers in a bomb attack in Co Tyrone.
PSNI assistant chief constable Bobby Singleton said the force had “seen evidence of what we believe is a viable explosive device” in the wake of the incident in Strabane on Thursday night.
“Fortunately the officers have not been injured in this attack but this attack took place in a busy residential area, it was absolutely reckless and any member of the public, never mind our police officers, could have been seriously injured,” he said.
Asked who could be responsible, the officer said: “Given the location of the attack and previous incidents, a strong line of inquiry would be the New IRA.”
Describing the incident as a “senseless attack”, he added: “It won’t deter us from what we need to do in the local community, which is to work together with residents to provide a service that everybody can be proud of.”
Two officers were targeted in the Mount Carmel Heights area of Strabane on Thursday night in an attack involving an improvised explosive device.
The Police Federation of Northern Ireland (PFNI) said the officers were lucky to escape uninjured when their vehicle was attacked.
The assistant chief constable added: “Shortly before 11pm last night two of the officers from the Strabane response local policing team were on duty in the Mount Carmel Heights area, they were conducting routine patrols in relation to ongoing anti-social behaviour in the area when they observed a flash and heard a loud bang.
“They left the area, came back to the station and they found evidence of some blast damage to their police vehicle.
“They later returned to the scene in a controlled fashion and established what they believe to have been the location of an explosion.
“We then moved into a security operation in the Mount Carmel Heights area.
“We have somewhere in the region of 1,000 residents who have been affected by that security alert.
“Our thoughts are first and foremost with the two police officers who were here last night serving their community.
“Fortunately they are left simply shaken by what happened last night, but we are treating this incident as a credible attempt to murder those officers.”
The Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, was in Newry, Co Down, when news of the attack began to emerge.
He said: “I have just been hearing news overnight and we do need further clarity in terms of what happened here and I understand an investigation is under way.
“But any such attempt to injure members of the security forces or the PSNI would be absolutely shocking and stands to be condemned,” Mr Martin said. “It is quite shocking, if that is the case, that something like that would happen.”
Tanaiste Leo Varadkar condemned the events in Strabane and expressed his solidarity with the PSNI.
“I think what it shows us, 100 years since the foundation of the state, 25 years since the Good Friday Agreement, there are still people on this island that don’t accept democracy, that want to pursue political objectives through violence and we reject that, people north and south reject that,” he said, speaking in Athlone on the eve of the Fine Gael Ardfheis.
“We will be working very closely with the Northern Ireland authorities to find out who planted this bomb and bring them to justice.”
Sinn Fein vice president Michelle O’Neill said any attempt to kill officers was “reprehensible”.
She tweeted: “Those involved in this attack will not succeed in dragging society backwards.
“We must all unite against these reckless actions. We must keep building the peace and moving forward.”
DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said: “This callous and seemingly pre-meditated attack must be roundly condemned.
“My thoughts first and foremost are with the officers affected, their loved ones and PSNI colleagues as they come to terms with has happened.
“Attempts on the life of police officers were wrong in the past and remain wrong today. There is always an alternative to violence.
“Northern Ireland will not be held to ransom by fringe elements intent only on bloodshed and dragging our society backwards.
“It is clear from the scenes this morning that those responsible for such cowardly acts offer nothing but hurt and disruption for the communities they purport to represent.
“Political leadership is needed to send a strong message that this behaviour has no place in our society.’’
The PFNI said the attack in Strabane was a “desperate, reckless act to murder officers working for the entire community”.
PFNI chairman Liam Kelly said: “The terrorist goal was to cause heartache and misery and return Northern Ireland to the dark ages. We are grateful that officers in the vehicle targeted by these cowards were unhurt.
“The attackers wanted their roadside device to cause maximum damage and we are thankful they failed in their objective.”
SDLP MLA Daniel McCrossan said: “More than 1,000 people living in Mount Carmel Heights are experiencing immense disruption this morning as police investigate a security alert in the area.
“This is one of Strabane’s biggest residential areas and there is currently no way in or out as the scene is cordoned off.
“Local people have reported hearing a loud bang late last night which police are now investigating. This disruption means that nurses, teachers and other public service workers are unable to get to work this morning,” Mr McCrossan said. – PA