This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-20869871
The article has changed 15 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 8 | Version 9 |
|---|---|
| Two men held over bomb placed under policeman's car | Two men held over bomb placed under policeman's car |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Two men have been arrested by police investigating the attempted murder of a police officer after a bomb was placed under his car in Belfast. | Two men have been arrested by police investigating the attempted murder of a police officer after a bomb was placed under his car in Belfast. |
| The men, aged 25 and 34, were held in Belfast on Monday. | |
| The unexploded device was discovered on the Upper Newtownards Road at about 14:00 GMT on Sunday. | The unexploded device was discovered on the Upper Newtownards Road at about 14:00 GMT on Sunday. |
| Army bomb disposal officers carried out a controlled explosion. A group calling itself the "new IRA" has claimed responsibility of the attack. | Army bomb disposal officers carried out a controlled explosion. A group calling itself the "new IRA" has claimed responsibility of the attack. |
| The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said the bomb was "clearly intended to kill the police officer". | The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said the bomb was "clearly intended to kill the police officer". |
| Threat level | Threat level |
| In a statement, PSNI Assistant Chief Constable George Hamilton said: "It is very fortunate that this device was detected before it exploded and that no-one was killed or seriously injured." | In a statement, PSNI Assistant Chief Constable George Hamilton said: "It is very fortunate that this device was detected before it exploded and that no-one was killed or seriously injured." |
| A few seconds on his knees to look under his car saved a police officer and his family from carnage on their way to have Sunday lunch. | A few seconds on his knees to look under his car saved a police officer and his family from carnage on their way to have Sunday lunch. |
| As his wife and two young children watched, he carried out his routine search of his vehicle and spotted a device intended to kill him. | As his wife and two young children watched, he carried out his routine search of his vehicle and spotted a device intended to kill him. |
| "We are very grateful that this officer acted in the way he did and checked his car, otherwise the consequences would have been absolutely devastating for him and his family," says Assistant Chief Constable George Hamilton. | "We are very grateful that this officer acted in the way he did and checked his car, otherwise the consequences would have been absolutely devastating for him and his family," says Assistant Chief Constable George Hamilton. |
| Hours after it was discovered, the bomb was defused in a controlled explosion by the army. | Hours after it was discovered, the bomb was defused in a controlled explosion by the army. |
| However the device was recovered partially intact and police hope forensic tests could identify those who made and planted it. | However the device was recovered partially intact and police hope forensic tests could identify those who made and planted it. |
| ACC Hamilton added that the officer's family and neighbours "were also put at risk of serious harm". | ACC Hamilton added that the officer's family and neighbours "were also put at risk of serious harm". |
| He said there was a severe threat level across Northern Ireland and appealed to officers to be vigilant and check under their cars. | He said there was a severe threat level across Northern Ireland and appealed to officers to be vigilant and check under their cars. |
| He hoped the device would be useful as evidence because it was discovered and did not engage. | He hoped the device would be useful as evidence because it was discovered and did not engage. |
| "This murderous type of attack is not the way forward for our society," he added. | "This murderous type of attack is not the way forward for our society," he added. |
| "No-one is entitled to take the life of another human being in circumstances such as this. Our appeal is for the vast majority of people to stand up against this rump of anti-peace dissident republicanism." | "No-one is entitled to take the life of another human being in circumstances such as this. Our appeal is for the vast majority of people to stand up against this rump of anti-peace dissident republicanism." |
| A number of houses in the area had to be evacuated while Army bomb officers made the device safe. | A number of houses in the area had to be evacuated while Army bomb officers made the device safe. |
| Booby-trap | Booby-trap |
| The chairman of Northern Ireland's Police Federation, Terry Spence, said he would be seeking a meeting with Chief Constable Matt Baggott to discuss officers' personal security. | The chairman of Northern Ireland's Police Federation, Terry Spence, said he would be seeking a meeting with Chief Constable Matt Baggott to discuss officers' personal security. |
| In recent years, dissident republican paramilitary groups have carried out a number of attacks on PSNI officers. | In recent years, dissident republican paramilitary groups have carried out a number of attacks on PSNI officers. |
| In April 2011, Constable Ronan Kerr was killed when a booby-trap car bomb exploded under his car in Omagh, County Tyrone. | In April 2011, Constable Ronan Kerr was killed when a booby-trap car bomb exploded under his car in Omagh, County Tyrone. |
| The previous year, Constable Peadar Heffron lost a leg in a similar attack as he drove to work in Randalstown, County Antrim. | The previous year, Constable Peadar Heffron lost a leg in a similar attack as he drove to work in Randalstown, County Antrim. |
| In November, prison officer David Black, 52, was shot dead in a motorway ambush in County Armagh as he drove to work. | In November, prison officer David Black, 52, was shot dead in a motorway ambush in County Armagh as he drove to work. |