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| Belfast police targeted in Falls Road bomb attack | Belfast police targeted in Falls Road bomb attack |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A bomb thought to have been thrown at a police patrol in west Belfast on Friday night was in fact detonated by a command wire, the PSNI has said. | A bomb thought to have been thrown at a police patrol in west Belfast on Friday night was in fact detonated by a command wire, the PSNI has said. |
| The bomb had been left in the grounds of the City Cemetery. | The bomb had been left in the grounds of the City Cemetery. |
| A father, his three children and four police officers were caught up in the bomb attack at about 22:30 GMT. | A father, his three children and four police officers were caught up in the bomb attack at about 22:30 GMT. |
| The Filipino family were treated for shock, but no-one was injured in the attack. The family's car was slightly damaged. | The Filipino family were treated for shock, but no-one was injured in the attack. The family's car was slightly damaged. |
| The blast blew a chunk of masonry out of the wall of the cemetery. | The blast blew a chunk of masonry out of the wall of the cemetery. |
| The road has now reopened after being closed for much of Saturday. | |
| It had been busy on Friday night, due to a community event attended by about 500 people. | |
| PSNI Supt Barbara Gray said: "This was not only a deliberate attempt to kill police officers, but was an attack on the community of west Belfast, and it is only through good fortune that no-one, either police or civilian, was seriously injured or killed last night." | PSNI Supt Barbara Gray said: "This was not only a deliberate attempt to kill police officers, but was an attack on the community of west Belfast, and it is only through good fortune that no-one, either police or civilian, was seriously injured or killed last night." |
| Terry Spence, chairman of the Northern Ireland Police Federation, said it was a "reckless, cowardly and futile" attack. | Terry Spence, chairman of the Northern Ireland Police Federation, said it was a "reckless, cowardly and futile" attack. |
| "The officers were fortunate to escape unhurt in what was a clear attempt to murder and maim," he said. | "The officers were fortunate to escape unhurt in what was a clear attempt to murder and maim," he said. |
| Mr Spence said he had spoken to senior officers after the attack. | Mr Spence said he had spoken to senior officers after the attack. |
| "I've been given the green light that there will be a fundamental review of security and how police officers patrol and indeed respond to treble nine calls," he said. | "I've been given the green light that there will be a fundamental review of security and how police officers patrol and indeed respond to treble nine calls," he said. |
| Sinn Féin blamed dissident republicans and condemned them, saying they could have killed people. | Sinn Féin blamed dissident republicans and condemned them, saying they could have killed people. |
| West Belfast MP Paul Maskey said: "I have to condemn whoever carried this out. I am sure it is dissident republicans. They should be ashamed of themselves. We are very lucky this young family is not hurt or dead." | West Belfast MP Paul Maskey said: "I have to condemn whoever carried this out. I am sure it is dissident republicans. They should be ashamed of themselves. We are very lucky this young family is not hurt or dead." |
| 'Blatant disregard for lives' | 'Blatant disregard for lives' |
| Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers said: "This attack is a blatant disregard not just for lives of police officers, but also for safety of whole community in west Belfast." | Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers said: "This attack is a blatant disregard not just for lives of police officers, but also for safety of whole community in west Belfast." |
| Northern Ireland Justice Minister David Ford said the attack was totally irresponsible | Northern Ireland Justice Minister David Ford said the attack was totally irresponsible |
| "When will those who tried to kill police officers on the Falls Road get the message? They are not supported and their actions are futile," he said. | "When will those who tried to kill police officers on the Falls Road get the message? They are not supported and their actions are futile," he said. |
| "The people behind this attack clearly planned it but I wonder what their plan was had members of the public been injured or killed?" | "The people behind this attack clearly planned it but I wonder what their plan was had members of the public been injured or killed?" |
| Ulster Unionist Policing Board member Ross Hussey said: "I am disgusted to hear of the cowardly blast bomb attack on the PSNI in Belfast. I am relieved that officers and passers-by weren't injured." | Ulster Unionist Policing Board member Ross Hussey said: "I am disgusted to hear of the cowardly blast bomb attack on the PSNI in Belfast. I am relieved that officers and passers-by weren't injured." |
| The SDLP's Alex Attwood said: "I condemn this attempt to kill police officers. | The SDLP's Alex Attwood said: "I condemn this attempt to kill police officers. |
| "Those engaged in this type of reckless violence are not advancing a political ideal of any kind, they are hurting the community they claim to represent." | "Those engaged in this type of reckless violence are not advancing a political ideal of any kind, they are hurting the community they claim to represent." |