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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Shots fired at police at Rossnareen Avenue in west Belfast | Shots fired at police at Rossnareen Avenue in west Belfast |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Police are treating a gun attack on officers in west Belfast as attempted murder. | Police are treating a gun attack on officers in west Belfast as attempted murder. |
| Up to eight shots were fired at a police car parked at Rossnareen Avenue, a number of which struck the passenger side of the vehicle. | Up to eight shots were fired at a police car parked at Rossnareen Avenue, a number of which struck the passenger side of the vehicle. |
| Two officers who were in the car at the time were not injured. | Two officers who were in the car at the time were not injured. |
| The attack happened at about 18:50 GMT on Thursday. Police described it as a "mindless, reckless attempt to kill officers". | The attack happened at about 18:50 GMT on Thursday. Police described it as a "mindless, reckless attempt to kill officers". |
| Ch Supt Nigel Grimshaw said the two officers were left badly shaken. | Ch Supt Nigel Grimshaw said the two officers were left badly shaken. |
| "This will not deter these officers or their colleagues from providing a much needed and increasingly valued police service in west Belfast," he added. | "This will not deter these officers or their colleagues from providing a much needed and increasingly valued police service in west Belfast," he added. |
| "We will review our procedures in light of this gun attack, but we will not be deterred from providing a comprehensive and community-based policing service. | "We will review our procedures in light of this gun attack, but we will not be deterred from providing a comprehensive and community-based policing service. |
| "Those who believe that trying to kill officers will achieve anything are deluded." | "Those who believe that trying to kill officers will achieve anything are deluded." |
| Police are investigating whether a car found burning in the Beechmount area was connected to the attack. | Police are investigating whether a car found burning in the Beechmount area was connected to the attack. |
| Ch Supt Grimshaw said the officers were carrying out duties in relation to recent serious crime in the area. A week ago a man was critically injured after being shot in the head in the same street. | Ch Supt Grimshaw said the officers were carrying out duties in relation to recent serious crime in the area. A week ago a man was critically injured after being shot in the head in the same street. |
| Secretary of State Theresa Villiers said Thursday night's attack was "shocking". | |
| "The people behind this despicable crime will rightly attract condemnation from right across the community," she said. | |
| Justice Minister David Ford described it as appalling. | |
| "This was clearly an attempt to kill police officers serving the community," he said. | "This was clearly an attempt to kill police officers serving the community," he said. |
| "Those responsible for this cowardly act have also shown absolutely no regard for local residents. I am very thankful that no-one was injured." | "Those responsible for this cowardly act have also shown absolutely no regard for local residents. I am very thankful that no-one was injured." |
| 'Frightening experience' | 'Frightening experience' |
| Sinn Féin MLA Alex Maskey also condemned the attack. | Sinn Féin MLA Alex Maskey also condemned the attack. |
| "This attack happened in the early evening in a busy area and could have killed or seriously injured anyone in the area at the time," he said. | "This attack happened in the early evening in a busy area and could have killed or seriously injured anyone in the area at the time," he said. |
| "Thankfully no-one was injured, but it was a frightening experience for people in the area." | "Thankfully no-one was injured, but it was a frightening experience for people in the area." |
| Debbie Watters, the vice chair of the Northern Ireland Policing Board, said: "I'm thankful that the officers in the police car escaped without injury, but this was certainly not the intent of those responsible." | Debbie Watters, the vice chair of the Northern Ireland Policing Board, said: "I'm thankful that the officers in the police car escaped without injury, but this was certainly not the intent of those responsible." |
| The SDLP's Tim Attwood said: "There's no place in Belfast, or Northern Ireland, for people to come out in the dead of night to target police officers." | The SDLP's Tim Attwood said: "There's no place in Belfast, or Northern Ireland, for people to come out in the dead of night to target police officers." |
| Ulster Unionist Ross Hussey said it was "a cowardly attack on officers serving the community". | Ulster Unionist Ross Hussey said it was "a cowardly attack on officers serving the community". |