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Belfast policeman injured during gunfire at filling station | Belfast policeman injured during gunfire at filling station |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Automatic gunfire was sprayed across a garage forecourt in Belfast, leaving a police officer injured. | Automatic gunfire was sprayed across a garage forecourt in Belfast, leaving a police officer injured. |
Police Service of Northern Ireland's Chief Constable George Hamilton said a bullet-proof vest may have saved the injured officer's life. | Police Service of Northern Ireland's Chief Constable George Hamilton said a bullet-proof vest may have saved the injured officer's life. |
He was shot at least twice in his right arm in the attack on the Crumlin Road on Sunday and had surgery overnight. | |
The PSNI is treating the attack as attempted murder and has released a photo of the suspected getaway car. | |
The red Audi was found burnt out in Culmore Gardens at about 20:00 GMT on Sunday. | |
A 36-year-old man has been arrested and police have said their main line of inquiry is "violent dissident republicans". | |
The injured officer is said to be "recovering well in hospital" but faces further surgery. | |
The chief constable said people were filling their cars with fuel at the garage when the shots were fired and there were "multiple strike marks on the forecourt". | |
'Just crazy' | 'Just crazy' |
He added that police now believe the attack was not a drive-by shooting but that a gunman fired shots from behind a fence, across the road from the petrol station. | He added that police now believe the attack was not a drive-by shooting but that a gunman fired shots from behind a fence, across the road from the petrol station. |
"This is an attack on the entire community, people walking from the forecourt to their cars with bullets whizzing round them and striking the garage forecourt - completely reckless," he said. | "This is an attack on the entire community, people walking from the forecourt to their cars with bullets whizzing round them and striking the garage forecourt - completely reckless," he said. |
"Whatever people's motivation for doing this, it is just crazy." | "Whatever people's motivation for doing this, it is just crazy." |
He added that the officer was "wearing ballistic body armour which may have helped". | He added that the officer was "wearing ballistic body armour which may have helped". |
Mr Hamilton said such incidents "don't happen on ad hoc or opportunistic way. So we'd be pretty convinced that this is a planned operation" | Mr Hamilton said such incidents "don't happen on ad hoc or opportunistic way. So we'd be pretty convinced that this is a planned operation" |
The chief constable added: "The use of violence for any sort of political objective hasn't worked in the past and it's certainly not going to work in the future." | The chief constable added: "The use of violence for any sort of political objective hasn't worked in the past and it's certainly not going to work in the future." |
The PSNI detective leading the investigation, Det Supt Kevin Geddes, said: "We have recovered bullets from a number of locations on the forecourt and in several cars." | |
He added that his officers were trying to trace the movements of a red Audi A4, registration number KNZ 2862. | |
He appealed for sightings of the getaway car on Flax Street and Crumlin Road at about 19:30 GMT on Sunday. | |
It was found burnt out in Culmore Gardens about 30 minutes later. | |
"I'd also like to hear from anyone who noticed this car and its movements during December 2016 up to last night's shooting," Mr Geddis added. | |
Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire and the NI Justice Minister Claire Sugden have described the attack as "sickening". | Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire and the NI Justice Minister Claire Sugden have described the attack as "sickening". |
Ms Sugden said there remained a significant terrorist threat in Northern Ireland "particularly against PSNI officers and indeed prison officers and that threat hasn't gone away with political instability, if anything it has been heightened. | Ms Sugden said there remained a significant terrorist threat in Northern Ireland "particularly against PSNI officers and indeed prison officers and that threat hasn't gone away with political instability, if anything it has been heightened. |
"I had voiced my concerns at the outset of all the political instability that we need to be vigilant against this type of attack because I do think there will be people who will take that opportunity." | "I had voiced my concerns at the outset of all the political instability that we need to be vigilant against this type of attack because I do think there will be people who will take that opportunity." |
Assistant Chief Constable Mark Hamilton said the attack was "reckless madness" and warned that there could have been "multiple deaths". | Assistant Chief Constable Mark Hamilton said the attack was "reckless madness" and warned that there could have been "multiple deaths". |
"This was a very concerted attack on our officers - a very concerted attempt to murder them," he added. | "This was a very concerted attack on our officers - a very concerted attempt to murder them," he added. |
Mark Lindsay, chairman of the Police Federation for Northern Ireland, said it was "an appalling act". | Mark Lindsay, chairman of the Police Federation for Northern Ireland, said it was "an appalling act". |
"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," he said. | "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," he said. |
"They believe that by causing great grief to a family they are somehow advancing their warped and outdated plan. The wider community will be outraged by this attack on one of their police officers. | "They believe that by causing great grief to a family they are somehow advancing their warped and outdated plan. The wider community will be outraged by this attack on one of their police officers. |
'Deeply disturbing' | 'Deeply disturbing' |
"This attempted murder underlines the fragility of our peace." | "This attempted murder underlines the fragility of our peace." |
DUP leader Arlene Foster condemned the shooting and said it was "the work of cowards". | DUP leader Arlene Foster condemned the shooting and said it was "the work of cowards". |
Sinn Féin's Gerry Kelly said those responsible had "absolutely nothing to offer society and need to call a halt to these activities immediately". | Sinn Féin's Gerry Kelly said those responsible had "absolutely nothing to offer society and need to call a halt to these activities immediately". |
The Social Democratic and Labour Party's Nichola Mallon said those involved in the attack were "calculating criminals intent on destabilising a community which continues to make strides toward reconciliation". | The Social Democratic and Labour Party's Nichola Mallon said those involved in the attack were "calculating criminals intent on destabilising a community which continues to make strides toward reconciliation". |
Alliance Leader Naomi Long said she believed they "intended to kill" and that "using guns in a residential area shows a callous disregard for the entire community". | Alliance Leader Naomi Long said she believed they "intended to kill" and that "using guns in a residential area shows a callous disregard for the entire community". |
Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt said: "We must find a way to end this." | Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt said: "We must find a way to end this." |
The leader of the Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV), Jim Allister, said the incident was a "reminder of the wickedness and criminality of all terrorism". | The leader of the Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV), Jim Allister, said the incident was a "reminder of the wickedness and criminality of all terrorism". |
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