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Home Page > News > Massive bomb made safe in Newry as dissident Republicans plot to kill police officers

Massive bomb made safe in Newry as dissident Republicans plot to kill police officers

PSNI confirm device was twice the size of Omagh bomb

PATRICK COUNIHAN,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Sunday, April 29, 2012, 7:29 AM

Updated Sunday, April 29, 2012, 7:30 AM

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Dissident Republicans are under suspicion after the discovery of a massive bomb in Newry.

Dissident Republicans are under suspicion after the discovery of a massive bomb in Newry – bigger than the device which killed 29 people in Omagh in 1998.

Viable devices and explosives were also discovered in North Belfast on Saturday in a massive security operation.

The first bomb alert in Newry uncovered a 600lb device in an abandoned van, twice the size of the Omagh bomb.

Two more alerts followed in Belfast as police reacted to a step-up in dissident Republican activity.

The Newry bomb was made safe by British Army experts in an operation that took over 36 hours. Local police chiefs said the device was larger than first feared and could have led to a major loss of life and destruction if detonated.

Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) District Commander Chief Superintendent Alasdair Robinson said: “The device contained two blue barrels with 125kg of homemade explosives in each one, and a detonator - all the equipment which meant this device was ready to go.

“This was a very significant device. If this had exploded it would have caused devastation.

“To put it in perspective - anyone within 50 metres of this device would have been killed and anyone within 100 metres, seriously injured.”

Local Ulster Unionist parliament member Danny Kennedy claimed the device was designed to kill PSNI officers.

“The scale of the bomb suggests an attempt at a major attack by dissident republicans has been prevented,” said Kennedy.

“Clearly this was an attempt to lure a police patrol into that area, with potentially lethal consequences.

“These dissidents are dangerous and dedicated terrorists, who are determined to cause serious harm, injury and death to members of the security forces regardless of the consequences to local communities.”

Smaller devices were located and diffused in North Belfast where police also found arms and ammunition during searches.

North Belfast PSNI Chief Inspector Ian Campbell said: “Those responsible for this have shown callous disregard for members of the public.

“The operation resulted in the evacuation of up to 80 people, including families with young children and elderly residents, for several hours.

“The finger of suspicion points towards dissident republican terrorists and I appeal to anyone with information to come forward to police.”

District Chief Superintendent George Clarke told the Irish Times: “The actions of police have undoubtedly thwarted the attempts of criminals to inflict death, injury and misery on the community of north Belfast.

“Police are determined to protect communities from these threats.”

Nster.com

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barneyjo | Apr 30, 2012, 06:51 PM EDT

@fuiseog - Let me remind you of the maxim "You should never encourage others to do something that you yourself are not prepared to do" If you feel so strongly about it, join in; commit totally to the values you espouse in your post. So, come on; get off your Boston Barstool (or wherever) and come to Ireland and do what you think is necessary. One thing.......be prepared to put up with your own company....... oh and book a return ticket, just in case :)

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RedBranch | Apr 30, 2012, 02:57 PM EDT

A future First / Deputy First Minister at work here...

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STEVENSTAR | Apr 30, 2012, 11:42 AM EDT

@@@@Bythebay | Apr 30, 2012, 09:41 AM EDT >>>>>>>>>>>> MOST PEOPLE ON HERE ARE AMERICAN IM IRISH THATS WHY I COME ON HERE TO COMMENT AND TO GIVE MY OPIONAS AN IRISHMAN WHO WAS BORN HERE LIVES HERE AND NOT ONE OF THESE PLASTIC AMERICAN PADDIES WHO SEEM TO BE ANTI BRITISH ANTI EUROPE AND ANTI EVERYTHING ABOUT THE IRISH IN THE YEAR 2012 ... THEY WANT TO KEEP US IN SOME TIME WARP OF OLDEN DAYS GONE BY AND AUNTY MARY IN THE FAMINE WITH THE DONKEY BRINGING IN THE TURF... WELL IM HERE TO TRY EDUCATE THEM TO IRELAND IN 2012

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STEVENSTAR | Apr 30, 2012, 11:41 AM EDT

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Bythebay | Apr 30, 2012, 09:41 AM EDT

seamus60, you obviously don't live in either Ireland or Northern Ireland and don't have to suffer what these IRA terrorists continue to do not to mention the 30 years of US funded terrorism in Northern Ireland, Ireland and England. Regarding 1916, there was a Home Rull Bill for Ireland passed by the British Parliament in 1912. It was interrupted by WWI but promised at the end of the War. It would more probably not have resulted in the partition of Ireland agreed by Michael Collins.

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DanOLoingsigh | Apr 30, 2012, 06:47 AM EDT

Fact is, we don’t have an island nation; rather one island and two nations, or tribes, or whatever term we choose to delineate the two major groups…we don’t need to go over recent history to know that most on the island do not want roadside bombs, for the logical reason that they or their loved ones may become victims of such devices, not to mention the cost in jobs and tourism if we go back to those days… Local SF MLA and Stormont minister Conor Murphy said the bomb was part of a pattern of “sporadic activity designed to keep the dissidents in the headlines”…I guess his opinion carries a certain weight?

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IrelandNorth | Apr 30, 2012, 06:14 AM EDT

Defaming prominent peace process sponsors held in high regard by both sides is unhelpful. Proprietorial geographicalised terminology to retrace racial commonlineage is dubious. Nationalist Ireland and republican Ireland are not necessarily coterminous, though there is considerable overlap - as with Ulster unionism and loyalism - the essential distinction being socioeconomic class. Fact is, we don't know what the majority of our island nation feel. They haven't been canvassed. Perhaps British military intelligence planted the bombs to defame armed resistance to the British state? PSNI criminalisation of Irish repubicanism threatens the peace process, which probably woundn't exist had it not been for the IRA. This is a struggle between political puritanism and pragmatism. If violence is the language of the unheard, should we not be listening more attentively.

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seamus60 | Apr 29, 2012, 07:09 PM EDT

Stevenstar. Your sentiment is very simular to that used against Republicans in 1916 and ever since come to think of it.

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Bythebay | Apr 29, 2012, 06:44 PM EDT

pilib04, the IRA terrorists also attempted to murder the parents of a Catholic PSNI officer in recent weeks. They live in a Catholc area of Derry.

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Bythebay | Apr 29, 2012, 06:40 PM EDT

PhlutiePhan, most of the IRA weapons came from the US or Libya, of course there are still lots remaining from their 30 years of terrorism.

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peterson | Apr 29, 2012, 06:22 PM EDT

These mentally challenged should "get a life" , not take one !!

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EphraimKibbey | Apr 29, 2012, 05:56 PM EDT

@PhlutiePhan - not necessarily! If it was in drums and the perimeter of distruction was as described, the bomb probably was similar to what was used by McVey and Nichols at the Murrow FBI mass murder here in the US. Our own home grown terrorists are said to be on the rise again. The FBI traced all the ingredients back to common farming materials that are available to purchase by anyone. That makes it all the more scary. I do not know who will claim responsibility for the Belfast bombs but Irishmen blowing up Irishmen hasn't solved anything in the past and much more is to be gained from talking than by violence. The violence just turns their friends and supporters against them.

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cynicus | Apr 29, 2012, 05:36 PM EDT

Idiots and morons! What do they want- to murder dozens more men women, children and babies in the womb. These are the devil's disciples and deserve all they get. This behaviour is a dark, satanic stain on the fair name of Ireland. And those who make excuses for this cowards behaviour should be shunned and boycotted.

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pilib04 | Apr 29, 2012, 04:20 PM EDT

The so-called dissidents murdered Ronan Kerr, a GAA, Catholic, PSNI officer. That was the end of the discussion with the dissidents, from my point of view. There is nothing left to talk about. They can surrender their arms and come in, but there is nothing to negotiate with them.

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STEVENSTAR | Apr 29, 2012, 02:19 PM EDT

AS AN IRISHMAN LIVING IN CORK SOUTHERN IRELAND IM SURE MOST OF US IN IRELAND NORTH AND SOUTH WOULD AGREE WHEN WE SAY THESE TINY MINORITY OF PEOPLE ARE THE ABSOLUTE LOWEST FORM OF 'S C U M ' LIVING IN IRISH SOCIETY ..

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