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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 |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| Thursday night's blast is believed to have been caused by an improvised device left by the road | Thursday night's blast is believed to have been caused by an improvised device left by the road |
| 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, with children being unable to get to school and carers unable to reach vulnerable residents, politicians say. | More than 1,000 residents are affected, with children being unable to get to school and carers unable to reach vulnerable residents, politicians say. |
| Police are treating the attack as attempted murder. | Police are treating the attack as attempted murder. |
| While an investigations is at an early stage, it is believed an improvised explosive device was used, said the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). | While an investigations is at an early stage, it is believed an improvised explosive device was used, said the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). |
| While no homes have been evacuated, the road into the residential area remains closed and motorists have been advised to avoid the area. | While no homes have been evacuated, the road into the residential area remains closed and motorists have been advised to avoid the area. |
| 'I started to shake' | 'I started to shake' |
| Local resident Michael McNulty had been working at his computer when he heard the bang. | Local resident Michael McNulty had been working at his computer when he heard the bang. |
| Police officers in protective clothing could be seen on the streets after the attack | Police officers in protective clothing could be seen on the streets after the attack |
| "It was just before 23:00, it shook the windows and the doors, then I started to shake," he told BBC Radio Foyle. | "It was just before 23:00, it shook the windows and the doors, then I started to shake," he told BBC Radio Foyle. |
| While the security alert had been very disruptive, "it has to be done", he added. | While the security alert had been very disruptive, "it has to be done", he added. |
| 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. |
| Read more: Timeline of Irish dissident activity | Read more: Timeline of Irish dissident activity |
| Those responsible had no support within the community, said Daniel McCrossan, who represents the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP). | |
| "I'm beyond words to describe the anger and frustration of the community... I can see concern on the faces of people here," he said. | "I'm beyond words to describe the anger and frustration of the community... 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. | "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. |
| "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." | "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." |
| Five members of staff and a number of the 470 pupils at nearby St Catherine's Primary School could not get to school on Friday morning. | Five members of staff and a number of the 470 pupils at nearby St Catherine's Primary School could not get to school on Friday morning. |
| Following disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, further upset to any child's education was not ideal, said the school's principal, Bridget Wilders. | Following disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, further upset to any child's education was not ideal, said the school's principal, Bridget Wilders. |
| 'Substantial' terrorist threat | 'Substantial' terrorist threat |
| 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. |
| Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Micheál 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 the whole community, adding that those responsible should "get off the backs" of local people. | Sinn Féin assembly member Maolíosa McHugh said the attack was not only on the PSNI, but the whole community, adding that those responsible should "get off the backs" of local people. |
| Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) assembly member Tom Buchanan said police officers were on the front line to protect and serve the community, and extended his thoughts to those targeted. | Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) assembly member Tom Buchanan said police officers were on the front line to protect and serve the community, and extended his thoughts to those targeted. |
| 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. |
| Roads around the site of the blast remained closed on Friday | Roads around the site of the blast remained closed on Friday |