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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| North Belfast: Pipe-bomb attack on PSNI officers | North Belfast: Pipe-bomb attack on PSNI officers |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Two police officers have escaped injury after two pipe bombs were thrown at them in north Belfast. | Two police officers have escaped injury after two pipe bombs were thrown at them in north Belfast. |
| The officers were responding to an emergency 999 call in Ballysillan at about 02:00 BST on Tuesday. | |
| They had just got out of their vehicle when two bombs were thrown at them. They took cover as the bombs exploded. | |
| The officers were uninjured but are very shaken. Police Ch Insp Andy Freeburn said it was "a blatant attempt to murder". | |
| "We are just shocked at how narrowly tragedy was averted," he said. | |
| "They were out protecting the community. It is just sheer good fortune that they were not killed or seriously injured. | |
| "I was struck by their courage and the commitment that they displayed in protecting the public. | |
| "They were doing the job they joined to do and love doing and yet somebody made an attempt on their lives. | |
| "Whoever carried out this attack showed total disregard for the officers or the people within this community." | "Whoever carried out this attack showed total disregard for the officers or the people within this community." |
| The chief inspector said this type of attack had been carried out by dissident republicans in the past but it was too soon to speculate any further. | |
| Johnny Ross who lives close to the scene was woken by the explosions. | |
| "They rattled the house. They were quite frightening," he said. | |
| "I have three young kids in the house and the bombs went off a few metres from the house. | |
| "The police were here within three to five minutes." | |
| The area where the pipe bombs exploded has been cordoned off and about 20 people had to move out of their homes overnight. | |
| The Ballysillan Leisure Centre was opened at about 03:30 BST and 13 residents stayed there. They included some elderly people, a pregnant woman and a child. | |
| Bernie Kelly from Belfast Trust's Emergency Response Team said: "I think it is disruptive, particularly for older people and the pregnant lady... It is quite disorientating. They are very stoic but they are very tired and are keen to get back into their own homes." | |
| Meanwhile, Crumlin Road has been closed between the junctions of Ballysillan Road and the Ligoneil Road due to the ongoing alert. | Meanwhile, Crumlin Road has been closed between the junctions of Ballysillan Road and the Ligoneil Road due to the ongoing alert. |
| Police said they would assist anyone travelling to Our Lady of Mercy School. They advised motorists to allow more time for driving through the area. | Police said they would assist anyone travelling to Our Lady of Mercy School. They advised motorists to allow more time for driving through the area. |
| The area was later evacuated and residents moved to Ballysillan Leisure Centre. |