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| 'Viable bomb' found under police officer’s car at Belfast golf club | 'Viable bomb' found under police officer’s car at Belfast golf club |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A "viable bomb" has been found under a police officer's car at a Belfast golf club according to sources in the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). | A "viable bomb" has been found under a police officer's car at a Belfast golf club according to sources in the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). |
| Police and Army bomb disposal experts are at the scene at Shandon Park Golf Club, in south east Belfast, which is near PSNI headquarters. | Police and Army bomb disposal experts are at the scene at Shandon Park Golf Club, in south east Belfast, which is near PSNI headquarters. |
| The alert began on Saturday afternoon and the premises was evacuated. | The alert began on Saturday afternoon and the premises was evacuated. |
| Club member Alan Paterson said the man who owned the car spotted the device after playing golf on Saturday morning. | Club member Alan Paterson said the man who owned the car spotted the device after playing golf on Saturday morning. |
| "He was leaving the course and he actually noticed something under the car and immediately informed the police and the members in the clubhouse at that time," Mr Paterson said. | "He was leaving the course and he actually noticed something under the car and immediately informed the police and the members in the clubhouse at that time," Mr Paterson said. |
| "I was actually in the clubhouse at the time when the person came in to tell us that there was a possible device." | "I was actually in the clubhouse at the time when the person came in to tell us that there was a possible device." |
| He added: "Within several minutes the police arrived and identified the object and said that they felt it was viable and that they should immediately evacuate the clubhouse and surrounding area, and also get everybody else off the golf course. | |
| "We are delighted that if it was a viable device the person concerned was not injured or worse, so that is a big plus for everybody. | |
| "We are a very mixed club. It is east Belfast, yes, but it is a mixed club and this sort of thing should not happen - it just should not happen." | |
| From the scene: BBC reporter Mark Simpson: | |
| There is a sense of shock in this leafy part of east Belfast, only a few miles from PSNI headquarters. | |
| Residents whose homes back on to the golf course carpark have been told by police to stay at the front of their homes. | |
| The golf club was busy with an estimated 70 people on the course at the time of the alert, and at least 50 in the clubhouse. | The golf club was busy with an estimated 70 people on the course at the time of the alert, and at least 50 in the clubhouse. |
| Saturday is the busiest day of the week at any golf club. | |
| Residents, whose homes back on to the golf course car park, have been told by police to stay at the front of their homes. | Residents, whose homes back on to the golf course car park, have been told by police to stay at the front of their homes. |
| PSNI Chief Constable George Hamilton condemned the attempted bombing as "despicable" | |
| DUP East Belfast MLA and Policing Board member Joanne Bunting described the attack as "absolutely reckless". | DUP East Belfast MLA and Policing Board member Joanne Bunting described the attack as "absolutely reckless". |
| "Shandon is a very busy club with many golfers and numerous social members on the premises. It is surrounded by a number of settled, residential communities," she said. | "Shandon is a very busy club with many golfers and numerous social members on the premises. It is surrounded by a number of settled, residential communities," she said. |
| "It's regrettable that there are still those who wish to take us back to the dark days of Northern Ireland. They are on a fruitless mission. | "It's regrettable that there are still those who wish to take us back to the dark days of Northern Ireland. They are on a fruitless mission. |
| "The people of East Belfast will not be cowed by terrorists. We are a much stronger community than that." | "The people of East Belfast will not be cowed by terrorists. We are a much stronger community than that." |