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Belfast police officer injured in 'terrorist shooting' Belfast police officer injured in drive-by shooting
(about 2 hours later)
A police officer has been shot and wounded in the arm during what was believed to be a murder attempt by dissident republicans in Belfast on Sunday night. A police officer was shot and wounded in the arm during what was believed to be a murder attempt by dissident republicans in Belfast on Sunday night.
The officer was hit around 7.30pm after gunmen opened fire from a passing car at a Police Service of Northern Ireland patrol in the forecourt of a petrol station on the Crumlin Road in the north of the city. The shooting occurred close to the spot where the New IRA tried to kill PSNI officers last year with a homemade rocket. The officer was shot in the arm in the forecourt of a petrol station on the Crumlin Road, north Belfast at about 7.30pm. His injuries were not life threatening and his condition in hospital has been described as stable.
Local reports said the car used in the drive-by shooting was seen being driven into the nearby Ardoyne district. It is understood the gunmen fired up to seven shots at the policeman whose condition has been described as “stable” in hospital tonight. Up to seven shots were fired from a car at a Police Service of Northern Ireland police (PSNI) patrol in Edenderry. Local reports said that the car used in the drive-by shooting was later seen being driven into the nearby republican Ardoyne district. Police, who said one person was arrested in connection with the shooting, closed off the Crumlin Road as part of a follow-up security operation.
Outgoing justice minister for Northern Ireland, Claire Sugden, condemned the attack as sickening. Both the Democratic Unionist Party and Sinn Féin also condemned those behind the attack.
The PSNI tweeted:
Crumlin Rd N Belfast closed as police investigate shooting incident. Officer shot and wounded at petrol station around 7.30pm. Info to 101.Crumlin Rd N Belfast closed as police investigate shooting incident. Officer shot and wounded at petrol station around 7.30pm. Info to 101.
The Police Federation for Northern Ireland, which represents rank and file officers, said it was a terrorist shooting and added that its thoughts were with the officer and his family. Its chairman, Mark Lindsay, said: “This is an appalling act, and I wish to condemn it in the strongest possible terms. Dissident republicans have a base in the Ardoyne-Oldpark area of north Belfast and have been actively targeting police officers over the past few years.
“This attack on the life of an officer is a stark reminder of the determination on the part of terrorists to murder and maim police officers. This latest shooting happened not far from a junction on the Crumlin Road where the New IRA fired a homemade rocket at a passing police patrol last year. No one was killed or seriously injured in that incident.
“They believe that by causing great grief to a family they are somehow advancing their warped and outdated plan.” He said the attack underlined the fragility of the peace. “It’s one reason why the threat level here remains classed ‘severe’ which means a terrorist attack is highly likely. ” Mark Lindsay, the chairman of the Police Federation for Northern Ireland, which represents more than 90% of officers in the region, described Sunday’s attack as appalling. “The police serve the entire community and wounding one individual is an attack on the entire community. This attempted murder underlines the fragility of our peace,” he said.
Democratic Unionist MP Nigel Dodds said it was a despicable act, adding: “These are scenes that we should all want to move away from in Northern Ireland.” Arlene Foster, the outgoing Northern Ireland first minister and leader of the Democratic Unionist party, condemned the shooting and said it was “the work of cowards”. Her DUP colleague, North Belfast MP Nigel Dodds, said it was deeply disturbing.
Senior Sinn Féin assembly member Gerry Kelly said the officer’s injuries were not life-threatening. “I hope that the injured officer will make a full and speedy recovery,” he said. “Those responsible for this attack are the same people who are attacking the local community. They have absolutely nothing to offer society and need to call a halt to these activities immediately. Gerry Kelly, the North Belfast Sinn Féin assembly representative, said those responsible had “absolutely nothing to offer society and need to call a halt to these activities immediately”.
The attack comes as Northern Ireland prepares for fresh elections after the collapse of powersharing. Former deputy first minister Martin McGuinness resigned in protest over a botched green energy scheme which is predicted to leave taxpayers millions out of pocket. James Brokenshire, the Northern Ireland secretary, said he was “shocked and appalled” at the attack. “To attack officers who are going about their daily duty protecting the entire community is sickening,” he said.
He was joined in his condemnation by the Irish foreign minister, Charlie Flanagan, who tweeted: “I condemn tonight’s shooting in North Belfast & injury to a PSNI officer. No excuse for such criminality. I wish the officer a full recovery.”
Nichola Mallon, the Social Democratic and Labour party assembly member in north Belfast, said: “Those responsible for this attack, not only on the individual involved but on the progress that north Belfast has made, must be brought to justice. This community has rejected the men of violence before and it will do so again.”
The former lord mayor added: “There will be no cover given to those who seek to destabilise our progress and bring mayhem back to our streets. I would encourage anyone with any information whatsoever to bring it forward to the police.”
The murder attempt comes at a time of renewed political instability in Northern Ireland. The region faces fresh elections to the assembly at Stormont following the collapse of the last power-sharing government.
A fortnight ago, the deputy first minister, Martin McGuinness, resigned from his post triggering the fall of the devolved administration. His decision was prompted by the refusal of Foster to stand down from her position while a public inquiry was held into a botched green energy scheme that is going to cost the taxpayer up to £50m.