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Mortar bomb near police station | Mortar bomb near police station |
(about 5 hours later) | |
A mortar bomb was abandoned near a police station in County Armagh, police have revealed. | A mortar bomb was abandoned near a police station in County Armagh, police have revealed. |
A security alert began in Keady on Friday morning after a suspicious vehicle was abandoned in Davis Street, close to the station. | A security alert began in Keady on Friday morning after a suspicious vehicle was abandoned in Davis Street, close to the station. |
The viable device was made safe and removed from the van for further examination. | The viable device was made safe and removed from the van for further examination. |
Chief Inspector Ken Mawhinney said the device "had the potential to cause death or serious injury". | Chief Inspector Ken Mawhinney said the device "had the potential to cause death or serious injury". |
"Those responsible have shown a reckless and callous disregard for the people of Keady," he said. | "Those responsible have shown a reckless and callous disregard for the people of Keady," he said. |
No organisation has claimed responsibility for the mortar bomb, but dissident republicans are suspected to be behind it. | |
SDLP mayor Thomas O'Hanlon said a van was abandoned at about 0625 GMT, but said police did not cordon off the area until a number of hours later. | SDLP mayor Thomas O'Hanlon said a van was abandoned at about 0625 GMT, but said police did not cordon off the area until a number of hours later. |
He said: "This junction is a busy cross-border route and it is not acceptable that cars were driving past what is a potential security risk." | He said: "This junction is a busy cross-border route and it is not acceptable that cars were driving past what is a potential security risk." |
Mr Mawhinney, who is Armagh area commander, said they had to "consider the safety, not only of the community, but also of my officers". | Mr Mawhinney, who is Armagh area commander, said they had to "consider the safety, not only of the community, but also of my officers". |
"Unfortunately, experience has demonstrated that criminal terrorist elements have used the cover of similar incidents to lure police into this area with the express intention of murdering police officers," he added. | "Unfortunately, experience has demonstrated that criminal terrorist elements have used the cover of similar incidents to lure police into this area with the express intention of murdering police officers," he added. |