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| Northern Irish police targeted in north Belfast bomb attack | Northern Irish police targeted in north Belfast bomb attack |
| (25 days later) | |
| Three police officers have escaped injury in a bomb attack in Northern Ireland. Police have confirmed that a report of a blast near officers on patrol in north Belfast on Saturday night was caused by an explosive device. They said they are treating it as a murder attempt. | Three police officers have escaped injury in a bomb attack in Northern Ireland. Police have confirmed that a report of a blast near officers on patrol in north Belfast on Saturday night was caused by an explosive device. They said they are treating it as a murder attempt. |
| The incident happened at approximately 9.15pm on Saturday as officers, responding to a call-out in the Hazelbank area, made their way along the Duncrue towpath near the M5 motorway. A blast went off close to the officers, prompting a security alert. | The incident happened at approximately 9.15pm on Saturday as officers, responding to a call-out in the Hazelbank area, made their way along the Duncrue towpath near the M5 motorway. A blast went off close to the officers, prompting a security alert. |
| The area was sealed off for more than 24 hours as searches were carried out by police and army bomb disposal experts. A spokeswoman for the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said: "It is believed the target was police officers and police are now treating it as attempted murder." | The area was sealed off for more than 24 hours as searches were carried out by police and army bomb disposal experts. A spokeswoman for the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said: "It is believed the target was police officers and police are now treating it as attempted murder." |
| While not injured, the spokeswoman said the officers were badly shaken. | While not injured, the spokeswoman said the officers were badly shaken. |
| The PSNI commander for the district, Chief Superintendent Henry Irvine, condemned those responsible. "This is a well-known area that is used every day by members of the local community," he said. "It is only by good fortune that police officers and members of the public were not killed or seriously injured. Those who carried out this attack have shown complete disregard to the safety of the local community and the police officers serving this community." | The PSNI commander for the district, Chief Superintendent Henry Irvine, condemned those responsible. "This is a well-known area that is used every day by members of the local community," he said. "It is only by good fortune that police officers and members of the public were not killed or seriously injured. Those who carried out this attack have shown complete disregard to the safety of the local community and the police officers serving this community." |
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