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Car bomb explodes at courthouse Car bomb explodes at courthouse
(30 minutes later)
Police say it is a "miracle" no-one was killed or injured by a car bomb near a courthouse in Newry, County Down. Police say it is a "miracle" no-one was killed or injured in a car bomb explosion at Newry courthouse.
Officers were evacuating the area when the bomb went off at about 2230 GMT on Monday. Officers were evacuating the area when the bomb went off at about 2200 GMT on Monday. The explosion damaged the gates of the courthouse and a security hut.
Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward condemned the attack and paid tribute to the officers' bravery. Dissident republicans opposed to the peace process are being blamed for the attack.
BBC Ireland correspondent Mark Simpson said it was the latest attack by dissident republicans opposed to the peace process. There is severe traffic disruption in Newry as the area remains cordoned off and a security operation continues.
'Substantial blast' Police Chief Inspector Sam Cordnor said: "It is only by sheer miracle that nobody was killed or injured."
Chief Inspector Sam Cordnor said: "It is only by sheer miracle that nobody was killed or injured. The attack comes days after a mortar bomb was abandoned near a police station in the village of Keady, about 20 miles away.
"Our investigations and examination of the area will be full and extensive, and I would appeal to anyone with information, no matter how small, to contact detectives at Newry." The bomb attack is thought to be the first time a large car bomb has exploded in Northern Ireland since the Real IRA bombing of Omagh in 1998.
In the last few years a number of large car bombs been have planted but have either failed to detonate or only partially detonated.
There have also been several attacks with smaller under-car bombs such as the one which almost killed a police officer in County Antrim in January.
ANALYSIS Mark Simpson, BBC Ireland correspondent The Newry bomb attack is the most serious incident involving dissident republicans in Northern Ireland since the recent political breakthrough at Hillsborough Castle.ANALYSIS Mark Simpson, BBC Ireland correspondent The Newry bomb attack is the most serious incident involving dissident republicans in Northern Ireland since the recent political breakthrough at Hillsborough Castle.
The dissidents are making it clear they want to wreck any political progress.The dissidents are making it clear they want to wreck any political progress.
Politicians at Stormont will be disappointed and disgusted at the bomb attack - but they won't be surprised.Politicians at Stormont will be disappointed and disgusted at the bomb attack - but they won't be surprised.
Gradually in recent weeks, the dissidents have been stepping up their activities.Gradually in recent weeks, the dissidents have been stepping up their activities.
Since they tried to kill a Catholic police officer, Peader Heffron, in Co Antrim last month, they've targeted three police stations in Co Armagh and now they've exploded a bomb in Co Down.Since they tried to kill a Catholic police officer, Peader Heffron, in Co Antrim last month, they've targeted three police stations in Co Armagh and now they've exploded a bomb in Co Down.
By striking in three different counties, they are trying to increase the range and intensity of their violence.By striking in three different counties, they are trying to increase the range and intensity of their violence.
But they still have very little support and a limited amount of weaponry. Without that, they cannot mount a full-scale campaign.But they still have very little support and a limited amount of weaponry. Without that, they cannot mount a full-scale campaign.
The explosion damaged the gates of the courthouse. Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward said: "This is an appalling attack by a very small group of people who refuse to accept that peace is working in Northern Ireland."
Mr Woodward, who is in the US, said he was pleased nobody had been hurt and described those behind the attack as "people who wanted to destabilise the political process". Sinn Fein MP for Newry and Armagh Conor Murphy said: "The fact that we're in the process of devolving policing and justice powers and there's an attack on a courthouse will not be lost on people.
He said: "This is an appalling attack by a very small group of people who refuse to accept that peace is working in Northern Ireland."
SDLP Newry and Armagh assembly member Dominic Bradley condemned those who were responsible for the bomb.
"This was a substantial blast which sounded loud where I live - the best part of two miles away," he said.
"I was on the scene shortly afterwards and I can say that local people were absolutely disgusted.
"As far as I could make out, there was only a five-minute warning and police were in the process of evacuating people from New Street/Canal Street when the bomb went off.
"We could easily have been looking at serious casualties or worse this evening and it is no credit at all to the bombers that as far as is known there were no injuries.
"People are saying that they got enough of this sort of thing during the Provo campaign, it was wrong and senseless then and it is wrong now."
'Swift actions'
DUP Newry and Armagh assembly member William Irwin said the bomb was "a cowardly action by those who want to drag Northern Ireland back to the past".
He said it "must be condemned across the community by all those who believe in democracy and oppose terrorism".
"The swift actions of police in ensuring that the area was evacuated must be praised and once again serve of a reminder of the threat which our police officers face daily," he said.
Local Sinn Fein MP Conor Murphy said: "The fact that we're in the process of devolving policing and justice powers and there's an attack on a courthouse will not be lost on people.
"These people are trying to drag us backwards and ensure we have the British army back on the streets.""These people are trying to drag us backwards and ensure we have the British army back on the streets."
Local Ulster Unionist assembly member Danny Kennedy said the bomb was "proof of a deteriorating security situation in Northern Ireland". DUP MLA William Irwin said the bomb was "a cowardly action by those who want to drag Northern Ireland back to the past".
'Enough'
SDLP MLA Dominic Bradley said: "People are saying that they got enough of this sort of thing during the Provo campaign, it was wrong and senseless then and it is wrong now."
Ulster Unionist assembly member Danny Kennedy said the bomb was "proof of a deteriorating security situation in Northern Ireland".
NI Secretary Shaun Woodward: "This is an appalling attack"NI Secretary Shaun Woodward: "This is an appalling attack"
"There have been a number of very serious incidents - this is by far probably the most serious recently," he said. "It represents a clear attack on security services and government institutions. It shows a very worrying level of capability that these dissidents now have."
"It represents a clear attack on security services and government institutions.
"It shows a very worrying level of capability that these dissidents now have."
It comes days after a mortar bomb was abandoned near a police station in the village of Keady, about 20 miles away.
Last October, Newry courthouse was the scene of a major security alert after an Army bomb disposal team was sent to examine a suspicious vehicle abandoned nearby.
It was later declared to be an elaborate hoax.
Hearings scheduled for Newry courthouse on Tuesday have been moved to Armagh.
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