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| Dissident republicans: Police warn of 'strong' attacks threat | Dissident republicans: Police warn of 'strong' attacks threat |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| There is a "strong possibility" that dissident republicans will carry out attacks in the run-up to Christmas, a senior police chief has warned. | There is a "strong possibility" that dissident republicans will carry out attacks in the run-up to Christmas, a senior police chief has warned. |
| Assistant Chief Constable Will Kerr said violence from such groups posed a "severe threat" in Northern Ireland. | Assistant Chief Constable Will Kerr said violence from such groups posed a "severe threat" in Northern Ireland. |
| "They are dangerous, they could do real harm and we will be working extremely hard over Christmas to tackle this threat," he said. | "They are dangerous, they could do real harm and we will be working extremely hard over Christmas to tackle this threat," he said. |
| ACC Kerr was speaking at a news conference in Belfast on Monday. | ACC Kerr was speaking at a news conference in Belfast on Monday. |
| He said the decision to hold the conference and appeal to the public for help was an indication of how concerned police are. | He said the decision to hold the conference and appeal to the public for help was an indication of how concerned police are. |
| "There is no point in trying to apply logic to the actions of these groups. They remain unrepresentative remnants from a past that no-one wants to return to," he said. | |
| "But they are a dangerous remnant and they retain the intent and capability to do real and serious harm to communities across Northern Ireland, including their own." | |
| ACC Kerr appealed to people to be vigilant in spotting any suspicious objects when out shopping; to be patient as police officers worked to secure areas and to pass on information to the police. | |
| Last year, dissident republicans carried out a number of attacks in Belfast in the run-up to Christmas. | Last year, dissident republicans carried out a number of attacks in Belfast in the run-up to Christmas. |
| A small bomb exploded in the city's busy Cathedral Quarter district, and in a separate incident, a man set himself alight inside a shop when the device he was carrying seemingly ignited prematurely inside his jacket. | A small bomb exploded in the city's busy Cathedral Quarter district, and in a separate incident, a man set himself alight inside a shop when the device he was carrying seemingly ignited prematurely inside his jacket. |
| There was an attempted car bomb attack close to the entrance of Victoria Square shopping centre. | There was an attempted car bomb attack close to the entrance of Victoria Square shopping centre. |
| Gunmen also opened fire on a passing police patrol in the Crumlin Road in the north of the city. | Gunmen also opened fire on a passing police patrol in the Crumlin Road in the north of the city. |