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| Strabane security alert: Bomb attack on police in Mount Carmel Heights | Strabane security alert: Bomb attack on police in Mount Carmel Heights |
| (39 minutes later) | |
| A loud bang was heard in Strabane on Thursday night | A loud bang was heard in Strabane on Thursday night |
| Two police officers have escaped injury after their patrol vehicle was damaged in a bomb attack in County Tyrone. | Two police officers have escaped injury after their patrol vehicle was damaged in a bomb attack in County Tyrone. |
| It happened shortly before 23:00 GMT on Thursday in the Mount Carmel Heights area of Strabane, where residents reported hearing a loud bang. | It happened shortly before 23:00 GMT on Thursday in the Mount Carmel Heights area of Strabane, where residents reported hearing a loud bang. |
| More than 1,000 residents are affected, children were unable to get to school and carers could not reach vulnerable residents, politicians say. | |
| Police are treating the attack as attempted murder. | Police are treating the attack as attempted murder. |
| The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said investigations are at an early stage but it is believed an improvised explosive device was used. | The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said investigations are at an early stage but it is believed an improvised explosive device was used. |
| A PSNI spokesperson said the attack, which caused damage to the vehicle, is "being treated as the attempted murder of two officers". | A PSNI spokesperson said the attack, which caused damage to the vehicle, is "being treated as the attempted murder of two officers". |
| The road into the residential area remains closed. Motorists have been advised to avoid the area. | The road into the residential area remains closed. Motorists have been advised to avoid the area. |
| Local resident Michael McNulty had been working at his computer when he heard the bang. | |
| "It was just before 11pm, it shook the windows and the doors, then I started to shake," he said. | |
| He said he had gone to the front door to investigate but could see nothing of note, had a glass of water, and returned to his computer. | |
| Mr McNulty said the security alert had been very disruptive, but "it has to be done". | |
| There has been no evacuation from homes. | |
| Police remain at the scene on Friday morning | Police remain at the scene on Friday morning |
| Daniel McCrossan said, who represents the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), said it was a "very serious situation". | |
| "People still have not been able to leave homes, carers could not get into vulnerable relatives," he said. | |
| "It took a contractor to open a temporary roadway via a field at the back of this estate to ensure people could get access to and from their homes." | |
| Those responsible have no support within the community, Mr McCrossan said. | |
| "I'm beyond words to describe the anger and frustration of the community. Lives could have been lost. I can see concern on the faces of people here," he said. | |
| "Nurses couldn't get to work, teachers couldn't get to school, parents couldn't get their children to school all because of someone placing something here that has endangered the lives of police patrolling the area." | |
| The Police Federation for Northern Ireland (PFNI) denounced the attack as a "desperate, reckless act to murder officers working for the entire community". | The Police Federation for Northern Ireland (PFNI) denounced the attack as a "desperate, reckless act to murder officers working for the entire community". |
| PFNI chair Liam Kelly said: "The attackers wanted their roadside device to cause maximum damage and we are thankful they failed in their objective. | PFNI chair Liam Kelly said: "The attackers wanted their roadside device to cause maximum damage and we are thankful they failed in their objective. |
| "The terrorist threat is rated 'substantial' and I would appeal to all officers to step up their vigilance." | "The terrorist threat is rated 'substantial' and I would appeal to all officers to step up their vigilance." |
| Police will very likely be working on the assumption this was an attack carried out by the New IRA. | Police will very likely be working on the assumption this was an attack carried out by the New IRA. |
| It has been on the back foot in recent years, after an MI5 bugging operation led to the arrest and charging of its alleged leadership in 2020. | It has been on the back foot in recent years, after an MI5 bugging operation led to the arrest and charging of its alleged leadership in 2020. |
| In March, MI5 lowered the threat level to Northern Ireland for the first time in 12 years. | In March, MI5 lowered the threat level to Northern Ireland for the first time in 12 years. |
| While the New IRA was not considered to have the capabilities of a few years ago, the police always maintained it remained dangerous. | While the New IRA was not considered to have the capabilities of a few years ago, the police always maintained it remained dangerous. |
| It claimed to have opened fire on police officers in Londonderry in August. | It claimed to have opened fire on police officers in Londonderry in August. |
| But virtually all attempted attacks have been thwarted in recent times and its last period of more intense activity was around 2019. | But virtually all attempted attacks have been thwarted in recent times and its last period of more intense activity was around 2019. |
| Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Micheal Martin said: "Any such attempt to injure members of the security forces or the PSNI would be absolutely shocking and stands to be condemned." | Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Micheal Martin said: "Any such attempt to injure members of the security forces or the PSNI would be absolutely shocking and stands to be condemned." |
| Sinn Féin assembly member Maolíosa McHugh said the attack was "not only on the PSNI but on the whole community". | Sinn Féin assembly member Maolíosa McHugh said the attack was "not only on the PSNI but on the whole community". |
| "There is no place for this type of activity in our society and those responsible should get off the backs of the community. | "There is no place for this type of activity in our society and those responsible should get off the backs of the community. |
| "What this has resulted in was huge disruption for local people this morning, preventing many from leaving their homes to go to work or school." | "What this has resulted in was huge disruption for local people this morning, preventing many from leaving their homes to go to work or school." |
| Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) assembly member Tom Buchanan said police officers are on the frontline to protect and serve the community. | Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) assembly member Tom Buchanan said police officers are on the frontline to protect and serve the community. |
| "I am glad the police officers have survived this attempt to take life. My thoughts are with them and their families," he said. | "I am glad the police officers have survived this attempt to take life. My thoughts are with them and their families," he said. |
| 'Shocked and disgusted' | 'Shocked and disgusted' |
| Chair of the Derry and Strabane Policing and Community Safety Partnership, Darren Guy, said those responsible "have absolutely no concern for people living in the area". | Chair of the Derry and Strabane Policing and Community Safety Partnership, Darren Guy, said those responsible "have absolutely no concern for people living in the area". |
| People in Strabane "are shocked and disgusted", he added. | People in Strabane "are shocked and disgusted", he added. |
| Earlier this year, the dissident republican terrorism threat level in Northern Ireland was lowered for the first time in 12 years. | Earlier this year, the dissident republican terrorism threat level in Northern Ireland was lowered for the first time in 12 years. |
| Since 2010, it had been severe, meaning an attack, or attacks, were highly likely. | Since 2010, it had been severe, meaning an attack, or attacks, were highly likely. |
| In March, it was lowered to substantial, meaning attacks are likely. | In March, it was lowered to substantial, meaning attacks are likely. |
| The terror alert level is based on analysis of intelligence by MI5. | The terror alert level is based on analysis of intelligence by MI5. |