This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/jan/25/northern-ireland-police-warn-of-dissident-violence-to-mark-easter-rising
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Northern Ireland police warn of dissident violence to mark Easter Rising | Northern Ireland police warn of dissident violence to mark Easter Rising |
| (7 months later) | |
| Police are warning of a major escalation in dissident republican violence in the run-up to the 100th anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising. | Police are warning of a major escalation in dissident republican violence in the run-up to the 100th anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising. |
| The Police Federation for Northern Ireland was responding to gun and petrol bomb attacks on officers during rioting in north Armagh on Sunday and the early hours of Monday morning. | The Police Federation for Northern Ireland was responding to gun and petrol bomb attacks on officers during rioting in north Armagh on Sunday and the early hours of Monday morning. |
| Mark Lindsay, the federation’s regional chairman, said it was fortunate that the only damage caused was to a number of police vehicles during the disturbances near the Belfast-Dublin railway line at Lurgan, Co Armagh. | Mark Lindsay, the federation’s regional chairman, said it was fortunate that the only damage caused was to a number of police vehicles during the disturbances near the Belfast-Dublin railway line at Lurgan, Co Armagh. |
| Earlier on Monday the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) confirmed that its officers came under gunfire during a riot close to the railway. Up to 100 petrol bombs were also thrown at the PSNI during the disturbances at Lake Street in Lurgan. | Earlier on Monday the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) confirmed that its officers came under gunfire during a riot close to the railway. Up to 100 petrol bombs were also thrown at the PSNI during the disturbances at Lake Street in Lurgan. |
| The attacks took place as the PSNI and army bomb-disposal officers dealt with a suspect device on the railway line between Dublin and Belfast, the PSNI said. Train services between the two cities are still severely disrupted, with passengers from Belfast having to be taken by bus to Newry before connecting with a train from the Irish Republic for the southbound journey onwards to Dublin. | The attacks took place as the PSNI and army bomb-disposal officers dealt with a suspect device on the railway line between Dublin and Belfast, the PSNI said. Train services between the two cities are still severely disrupted, with passengers from Belfast having to be taken by bus to Newry before connecting with a train from the Irish Republic for the southbound journey onwards to Dublin. |
| No one was injured during the clashes, which police described as “orchestrated, intense and prolonged violence”. | No one was injured during the clashes, which police described as “orchestrated, intense and prolonged violence”. |
| Supt David Moore said: “The behaviour of those involved in the disorder last night was nothing short of disgusting.” | Supt David Moore said: “The behaviour of those involved in the disorder last night was nothing short of disgusting.” |
| The police federation said it was lucky there had not been “a long casualty list” as a result of the violence, which Lindsay claimed was orchestrated and directed by dissident republicans opposed to the peace process. | The police federation said it was lucky there had not been “a long casualty list” as a result of the violence, which Lindsay claimed was orchestrated and directed by dissident republicans opposed to the peace process. |
| Lindsay said: “The people who are out to fulfil some ridiculous pipe dream don’t care about the upset they cause local people. They need to be condemned and ostracised. We need to put these would-be killers out of business and, for that, we need the help of the community. | Lindsay said: “The people who are out to fulfil some ridiculous pipe dream don’t care about the upset they cause local people. They need to be condemned and ostracised. We need to put these would-be killers out of business and, for that, we need the help of the community. |
| “As we approach the centenary of the Easter Rising, my worry is that dissident republicans will attempt to escalate their actions, and cause even more disruption, as they seek to kill or maim officers, who are there to safeguard innocent people who want to have nothing whatsoever to do with these mindless thugs.” | “As we approach the centenary of the Easter Rising, my worry is that dissident republicans will attempt to escalate their actions, and cause even more disruption, as they seek to kill or maim officers, who are there to safeguard innocent people who want to have nothing whatsoever to do with these mindless thugs.” |
| Local sources say the anti-ceasefire Continuity IRA (CIRA) was behind the violence. The dissident republican group has a small but active presence in the Lurgan and Craigavon areas of north Armagh. | Local sources say the anti-ceasefire Continuity IRA (CIRA) was behind the violence. The dissident republican group has a small but active presence in the Lurgan and Craigavon areas of north Armagh. |
| They told Guardian that the trouble was linked to the ongoing trial of a number of dissident republican figures from the north Armagh area at a non-jury court in Belfast. | They told Guardian that the trouble was linked to the ongoing trial of a number of dissident republican figures from the north Armagh area at a non-jury court in Belfast. |
| The CIRA was responsible for killing the first member of the PSNI, Constable Stephen Carroll, who was shot dead in a sniper attack on a police patrol in 2009. | The CIRA was responsible for killing the first member of the PSNI, Constable Stephen Carroll, who was shot dead in a sniper attack on a police patrol in 2009. |
| Meanwhile, the PSNI also revealed that it had recovered an assault rifle and ammunition during a security operation in Strabane, Co Tyrone, at the weekend aimed at disrupting the activities of republican dissident groups in the north-west of Northern Ireland. | Meanwhile, the PSNI also revealed that it had recovered an assault rifle and ammunition during a security operation in Strabane, Co Tyrone, at the weekend aimed at disrupting the activities of republican dissident groups in the north-west of Northern Ireland. |
| A senior police officer in the town later said the weapon, an Armalite rifle, was about to be used in an attack on a PSNI patrol. | A senior police officer in the town later said the weapon, an Armalite rifle, was about to be used in an attack on a PSNI patrol. |