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Attack response time criticised | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A DUP councillor has criticised the police for not securing the site of a petrol bomb attack in Fermanagh. | |
The device was thrown outside a church hall in Clogh, near Roslea, at 2215 GMT on Wednesday as people were playing bowls. It failed to ignite. | |
Roslea police station closed in 2005 and councillor Paul Robinson said the community felt abandoned. | |
However, the police said they had been attacked in the area before and the dissident threat remained high. | |
Mr Robinson, who has been to the scene, said people inside the Church of Ireland premises heard a bang outside and thought something had fallen off a window. | |
"It was only when somebody went to go home they discovered the car was covered in petrol and the bottle was lying beside it, broke," he said. | "It was only when somebody went to go home they discovered the car was covered in petrol and the bottle was lying beside it, broke," he said. |
"The car is not there but about 100 yards from the hall... there is a van driven against a post and the doors are lying wide open on it." | "The car is not there but about 100 yards from the hall... there is a van driven against a post and the doors are lying wide open on it." |
"It seems like it is just a daylight (police) service we are getting up here. At night you are on your own, " he added. | |
Ulster Unionist assembly member Tom Elliot has condemned the attack. | Ulster Unionist assembly member Tom Elliot has condemned the attack. |
"I call on people to be vigilant and report anything suspicious," he said. | "I call on people to be vigilant and report anything suspicious," he said. |
In a statement, the police said: "This is an area in which attacks have been mounted on police in the recent past and local people will understand our care in responding to this incident and other suspicious activity. | |
"We have been in touch with local community representatives and our counterparts in An Garda Siochana and we are planning an operation to investigate the incidents. We welcome the co-operation and ongoing support of local people. | |
"The area in question is a remote one, and there have been two attempts since 2006 to leave bombs to kill police officers. | |
"The dissident republican threat remains high. This threat is an indiscriminate one and the blame for that lies squarely with those who defy the overwhelming wishes of people of all areas to enjoy their lives free of terror and violence." |