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Bloody Sunday: Ex-soldier arrested over Londonderry shootings | Bloody Sunday: Ex-soldier arrested over Londonderry shootings |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A former soldier has been arrested by detectives investigating the events of Bloody Sunday in Londonderry. | A former soldier has been arrested by detectives investigating the events of Bloody Sunday in Londonderry. |
Thirteen people were killed when British paratroopers opened fire on a civil rights march through the city in January 1972. A fourteenth died later. | Thirteen people were killed when British paratroopers opened fire on a civil rights march through the city in January 1972. A fourteenth died later. |
The 66-year-old is a former member of the Parachute Regiment. | The 66-year-old is a former member of the Parachute Regiment. |
It is understood he is being questioned over the deaths of William Nash, Michael McDaid and John Young. | It is understood he is being questioned over the deaths of William Nash, Michael McDaid and John Young. |
The man is the first person to be arrested as part of the Bloody Sunday investigation. | The man is the first person to be arrested as part of the Bloody Sunday investigation. |
He is being interviewed at a police station in Belfast after being detained in County Antrim on Tuesday morning. | He is being interviewed at a police station in Belfast after being detained in County Antrim on Tuesday morning. |
He is soldier J, who was one of the soldiers who appeared before the Saville Inquiry. | |
'Very emotional' | 'Very emotional' |
Earlier, Kate Nash, whose 19-year-old brother, William, was killed on Bloody Sunday, said she welcomed the news. | |
"I had a call this morning from the police liaison officer that deals with our family," said Ms Nash. | "I had a call this morning from the police liaison officer that deals with our family," said Ms Nash. |
"She said that they had arrested a soldier and that he was being questioned. She said she wanted the family to know first before it went out on the news. | "She said that they had arrested a soldier and that he was being questioned. She said she wanted the family to know first before it went out on the news. |
"She said he was being questioned in relation to the death of my brother, William and two others: Michael McDaid, John Young and the attempted murder of my father. | |
"I started to shake. I couldn't believe it. I became very emotional. | "I started to shake. I couldn't believe it. I became very emotional. |
"To see a soldier even being questioned has truly shocked me. I never thought it would get to this. | "To see a soldier even being questioned has truly shocked me. I never thought it would get to this. |
"There is a flicker of hope. It's a very positive step." | "There is a flicker of hope. It's a very positive step." |
The officer leading the investigation, Det Ch Insp Ian Harrison, said the arrest "marked a new phase in the overall investigation which would continue for some time". | The officer leading the investigation, Det Ch Insp Ian Harrison, said the arrest "marked a new phase in the overall investigation which would continue for some time". |
'No warning' | 'No warning' |
A Ministry of Defence (MOD) spokesperson said: "We are aware an ex-soldier has been arrested by the Police Service of Northern Ireland in connection with their investigation into the events of Bloody Sunday. | A Ministry of Defence (MOD) spokesperson said: "We are aware an ex-soldier has been arrested by the Police Service of Northern Ireland in connection with their investigation into the events of Bloody Sunday. |
"It would be inappropriate to comment further on an ongoing criminal investigation at this stage." | "It would be inappropriate to comment further on an ongoing criminal investigation at this stage." |
Bloody Sunday was one of the most controversial days in Northern Ireland's history. | Bloody Sunday was one of the most controversial days in Northern Ireland's history. |
In 2010, Prime Minister David Cameron apologised to the Bloody Sunday victims on behalf of the state, after a long-running public inquiry unequivocally blamed the Army for the civilian deaths. | In 2010, Prime Minister David Cameron apologised to the Bloody Sunday victims on behalf of the state, after a long-running public inquiry unequivocally blamed the Army for the civilian deaths. |
The inquiry, led by Lord Saville, took 12 years to complete and exonerated those who died. | The inquiry, led by Lord Saville, took 12 years to complete and exonerated those who died. |
It concluded that soldiers fired the first shot and gave no warning before opening fire on the civilian marchers. | It concluded that soldiers fired the first shot and gave no warning before opening fire on the civilian marchers. |
The Saville Report also found that some of those killed or injured were clearly fleeing or going to help the injured and dying. | The Saville Report also found that some of those killed or injured were clearly fleeing or going to help the injured and dying. |
Accepting the findings of the 2010 inquiry, Mr Cameron described the killings as "unjustified and unjustifiable" and said he was "deeply sorry". | Accepting the findings of the 2010 inquiry, Mr Cameron described the killings as "unjustified and unjustifiable" and said he was "deeply sorry". |
The arrest was made by the Police Service of Northern Ireland's Legacy Investigation Branch. | The arrest was made by the Police Service of Northern Ireland's Legacy Investigation Branch. |
The specialist police team was set up to re-investigate unsolved murder cases, dating from the beginning of the Troubles in the late 1960s, up to 2004. | The specialist police team was set up to re-investigate unsolved murder cases, dating from the beginning of the Troubles in the late 1960s, up to 2004. |
The Legacy Investigation Branch replaced the Historical Enquiries Team (HET), shortly after an inspection report criticised the HET for treating state killings with "less rigour" than others. | The Legacy Investigation Branch replaced the Historical Enquiries Team (HET), shortly after an inspection report criticised the HET for treating state killings with "less rigour" than others. |
The branch began work in January this year, taking over the Bloody Sunday investigation along with other HET cases. | The branch began work in January this year, taking over the Bloody Sunday investigation along with other HET cases. |