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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Pipe bomb thrown at police in Belfast 'reckless bid to kill' | Pipe bomb thrown at police in Belfast 'reckless bid to kill' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A pipe bomb that was thrown at a PSNI patrol in a residential area of north Belfast was a "reckless" attempt to kill officers, the police have said. | A pipe bomb that was thrown at a PSNI patrol in a residential area of north Belfast was a "reckless" attempt to kill officers, the police have said. |
| It was thrown at a PSNI vehicle at the junction of Oldpark Road and Rosapenna Street at about 22:00 GMT on Wednesday. | It was thrown at a PSNI vehicle at the junction of Oldpark Road and Rosapenna Street at about 22:00 GMT on Wednesday. |
| Chief Superintendent George Clarke, the district commander for north and west Belfast, said it put the lives of people in the area at risk. | Chief Superintendent George Clarke, the district commander for north and west Belfast, said it put the lives of people in the area at risk. |
| He blamed the attack on dissident republican paramilitaries. | He blamed the attack on dissident republican paramilitaries. |
| About 20 houses in the area were evacuated and the road was closed overnight while the Army examined the device. | About 20 houses in the area were evacuated and the road was closed overnight while the Army examined the device. |
| Telephone warning | Telephone warning |
| Ch Supt Clarke told BBC Radio Ulster: "Shortly after ten o'clock last night a police patrol was in the area of the Oldpark Road/Rosapenna Street junction when they believed something was thrown at their vehicle. | Ch Supt Clarke told BBC Radio Ulster: "Shortly after ten o'clock last night a police patrol was in the area of the Oldpark Road/Rosapenna Street junction when they believed something was thrown at their vehicle. |
| "They weren't aware what [it] was at that time. Unfortunately, what can happen in this area is that stones and bricks will be thrown at police vehicles," Ch Supt Clarke said. | |
| The district commander said that about 15 minutes later, a phone call was made to the Samaritans, warning that a pipe bomb had been thrown in the area. | The district commander said that about 15 minutes later, a phone call was made to the Samaritans, warning that a pipe bomb had been thrown in the area. |
| The police then began to evacuate homes in the street and a search for the device got under way. | The police then began to evacuate homes in the street and a search for the device got under way. |
| It was discovered during the night and has been taken away by Army bomb disposal officers for further examination. | It was discovered during the night and has been taken away by Army bomb disposal officers for further examination. |
| Ch Supt Clarke said the attack was "clearly an attempt to kill police" but he added that it was also "reckless as to the consequences to the safety of other people". | Ch Supt Clarke said the attack was "clearly an attempt to kill police" but he added that it was also "reckless as to the consequences to the safety of other people". |
| Paramilitaries | Paramilitaries |
| He said it was a busy, residential street and there were a number of young people in the area at the time, who could have been injured. | He said it was a busy, residential street and there were a number of young people in the area at the time, who could have been injured. |
| "Not only was there a risk posed to those people but there was massive inconvenience posed to people of all ages and to families in an around that area," the district commander added. | "Not only was there a risk posed to those people but there was massive inconvenience posed to people of all ages and to families in an around that area," the district commander added. |
| "We had to evacuate a little under 20 houses last night. That's people who are out of their homes in the middle of the night - children who maybe won't get to school this morning, old people who will be facing the challenge of not being able to have a night in their own bed." | "We had to evacuate a little under 20 houses last night. That's people who are out of their homes in the middle of the night - children who maybe won't get to school this morning, old people who will be facing the challenge of not being able to have a night in their own bed." |
| Ch Supt Clarke told the programme that "at this stage" police believe that dissident republican paramilitaries were responsible for carrying out the attack. | Ch Supt Clarke told the programme that "at this stage" police believe that dissident republican paramilitaries were responsible for carrying out the attack. |
| The attack came 24 hours after a dissident republican group, Oglaigh na hEireann, claimed responsibility for planting a pipe bomb at a community centre on the Shore Road in north Belfast. | The attack came 24 hours after a dissident republican group, Oglaigh na hEireann, claimed responsibility for planting a pipe bomb at a community centre on the Shore Road in north Belfast. |