This article is from the source 'bbc' 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 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-49645178
The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 8 | Version 9 |
---|---|
Creggan bomb 'attempt to kill police officers' | Creggan bomb 'attempt to kill police officers' |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A bomb in Londonderry was an attempt by dissident republican group the New IRA to murder police officers, the PSNI has said. | A bomb in Londonderry was an attempt by dissident republican group the New IRA to murder police officers, the PSNI has said. |
The bomb was found after up to 80 police officers took part in a security search targeting the New IRA on Monday. | The bomb was found after up to 80 police officers took part in a security search targeting the New IRA on Monday. |
Police said the device contained commercial explosives. | Police said the device contained commercial explosives. |
Fifteen families had to leave their homes after the discovery of the device in Creggan Heights, but they have since returned home after it was made safe. | Fifteen families had to leave their homes after the discovery of the device in Creggan Heights, but they have since returned home after it was made safe. |
Some analysts suggest dissident republicans may be trying to exploit publicity surrounding Brexit to advance their agenda. | Some analysts suggest dissident republicans may be trying to exploit publicity surrounding Brexit to advance their agenda. |
More than 40 petrol bombs and other missiles were thrown at police during the security search. | More than 40 petrol bombs and other missiles were thrown at police during the security search. |
Police said a crowd of between 60 and 100 young people gathered in the area, some of whom attacked police vehicles. | Police said a crowd of between 60 and 100 young people gathered in the area, some of whom attacked police vehicles. |
At least two of the young people suffered burn injuries when they tried to attack the police cordon with petrol bombs. | At least two of the young people suffered burn injuries when they tried to attack the police cordon with petrol bombs. |
Sinn Féin's Karen Mullan said the number of young people who actively attacked police was "smaller" than the total size of the crowd. | Sinn Féin's Karen Mullan said the number of young people who actively attacked police was "smaller" than the total size of the crowd. |
"I didn't see anything orchestrated but one person rioting is one person too many," she added. | "I didn't see anything orchestrated but one person rioting is one person too many," she added. |
She said people living in Creggan were "angry and disgusted" and those responsible were not "listening to the community". | She said people living in Creggan were "angry and disgusted" and those responsible were not "listening to the community". |
"There is no justification whatsoever for rioting or attacking the police when they are in to do their job," she said. | "There is no justification whatsoever for rioting or attacking the police when they are in to do their job," she said. |
No police officers were injured. | No police officers were injured. |
'Advanced state of readiness' | 'Advanced state of readiness' |
Assistant Chief Constable Mark Hamilton said the command wire initiated improvised explosive device was discovered in a car parked in the area. | Assistant Chief Constable Mark Hamilton said the command wire initiated improvised explosive device was discovered in a car parked in the area. |
He said it was in an "advanced state of readiness." | He said it was in an "advanced state of readiness." |
The device would require someone to be "standing watching for a target to pass by" and then send an electrical charge down its command wire. | The device would require someone to be "standing watching for a target to pass by" and then send an electrical charge down its command wire. |
"This is effectively like a roadside bomb," he said. | "This is effectively like a roadside bomb," he said. |
"It's a small device to look at but contains what we believe to be commercial explosives and it would have had quite a considerable explosion." | "It's a small device to look at but contains what we believe to be commercial explosives and it would have had quite a considerable explosion." |
It was made safe by Army bomb disposal experts at about 04:00 BST. | It was made safe by Army bomb disposal experts at about 04:00 BST. |
Analysis: Frequency of attacks increasing | Analysis: Frequency of attacks increasing |
By Julian O'Neill, BBC News NI Home Affairs Correspondent | By Julian O'Neill, BBC News NI Home Affairs Correspondent |
The PSNI has noted a change of tempo in dissident republican activity in recent months. | The PSNI has noted a change of tempo in dissident republican activity in recent months. |
Senior officers believe there is a greater determination to cause harm. | Senior officers believe there is a greater determination to cause harm. |
Perhaps dissident republicans are out to exploit publicity surrounding Brexit. | Perhaps dissident republicans are out to exploit publicity surrounding Brexit. |
This year, there have been seven attacks, or planned attacks, in Northern Ireland which are known of. | This year, there have been seven attacks, or planned attacks, in Northern Ireland which are known of. |
The majority have been attributed to the so-called New IRA, the bigger of two main dissident groups. | The majority have been attributed to the so-called New IRA, the bigger of two main dissident groups. |
None of the attacks has gone to plan - only two of six murder bids involving bombs involved a device which went off. | None of the attacks has gone to plan - only two of six murder bids involving bombs involved a device which went off. |
However, as the shooting dead of journalist Lyra McKee showed, the intent, the ability to mount attacks, exists. | However, as the shooting dead of journalist Lyra McKee showed, the intent, the ability to mount attacks, exists. |
Overall, the campaign of violence is low-level in historical terms. | Overall, the campaign of violence is low-level in historical terms. |
MI5, which has the lead role in Northern Ireland counter-terrorism, has hundreds of staff in Holywood working to contain the threat. | MI5, which has the lead role in Northern Ireland counter-terrorism, has hundreds of staff in Holywood working to contain the threat. |
'No regard for life' | 'No regard for life' |
ACC Hamilton said officers believed the bomb was to be used against a police patrol in the area. | ACC Hamilton said officers believed the bomb was to be used against a police patrol in the area. |
"This is not a car bomb, it is a smaller device but could have had really devastating consequences," he said. | "This is not a car bomb, it is a smaller device but could have had really devastating consequences," he said. |
Those responsible had "no regard for the lives of anyone living in Creggan" and had "exploited some of the young people in the community to attack police", he added. | Those responsible had "no regard for the lives of anyone living in Creggan" and had "exploited some of the young people in the community to attack police", he added. |
Police said they would remain at the scene and a "full terrorist investigation" was under way. | Police said they would remain at the scene and a "full terrorist investigation" was under way. |
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said it was "shockingly reckless to leave a bomb in the middle of a street." | |
"It just shows these people don't care about their own community, they don't care about who they hurt, | |
"They are trying to kill Irish police officers. It is totally and utterly morally wrong," he said. | |
Journalist Lyra McKee was shot dead during rioting in Creggan in April while standing near a police 4x4. | Journalist Lyra McKee was shot dead during rioting in Creggan in April while standing near a police 4x4. |
Fr Joseph Gormley, who anointed Ms McKee on the night she was shot, said had the bomb not been found and diffused, "we could have had another loss of life". | Fr Joseph Gormley, who anointed Ms McKee on the night she was shot, said had the bomb not been found and diffused, "we could have had another loss of life". |
The New IRA later said its members had murdered the 29-year-old, who was shot in the head when a masked gunman fired towards police and onlookers. | The New IRA later said its members had murdered the 29-year-old, who was shot in the head when a masked gunman fired towards police and onlookers. |
Monday's police operation in Creggan followed the discovery of a mortar bomb in Strabane, County Tyrone, on Saturday, which police blamed on the New IRA. | Monday's police operation in Creggan followed the discovery of a mortar bomb in Strabane, County Tyrone, on Saturday, which police blamed on the New IRA. |