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| Lurgan bomb attack was 'designed to kill' police, says PSNI | Lurgan bomb attack was 'designed to kill' police, says PSNI |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A bomb which exploded in County Armagh on Saturday was "absolutely designed to kill" police, the PSNI has said. | |
| Homes were evacuated in Lurgan after officers responded to a call reporting an unexploded device - but, as they searched, a bomb exploded. | |
| Police believe the initial call was designed to lure officers to the area. | Police believe the initial call was designed to lure officers to the area. |
| Supt David Moore said it "may well have been the case" that the bomb was detonated by people watching from a distance. | |
| He said it would probably have been "much larger" than a pipe bomb and was "obviously designed to take out officers on foot". | |
| "It's more than likely at this stage that this was an anti-personnel device," Supt Moore said. | |
| "It bears all the hallmarks of violent dissident republican terrorists." | |
| He said the area where the device exploded is "frequented by both younger children at play and older children sometimes guilty of creating something of a nuisance". | |
| He said as a result it would be an area often patrolled by the police. | |
| Second device | Second device |
| The security alert began following a call to a charity, during which the caller said a device had been fired at a police patrol but had failed to explode. | |
| Officers found a suspicious object and evacuated families from homes in Victoria Street. | Officers found a suspicious object and evacuated families from homes in Victoria Street. |
| However, while police officers were searching the area a second device went off. The explosion happened between 16:00 and 17:00 BST. | However, while police officers were searching the area a second device went off. The explosion happened between 16:00 and 17:00 BST. |
| Police said on Sunday that the devices they recovered "appeared to have been planted" and they did not believe any device was fired at them. | Police said on Sunday that the devices they recovered "appeared to have been planted" and they did not believe any device was fired at them. |
| Police officers were also attacked with petrol bombs and bricks during the security alert. | Police officers were also attacked with petrol bombs and bricks during the security alert. |
| 'Pointless actions' | 'Pointless actions' |
| Northern Ireland Justice Minister David Ford said whoever was behind the attack "had a clear intention to kill police officers". | Northern Ireland Justice Minister David Ford said whoever was behind the attack "had a clear intention to kill police officers". |
| "They showed absolutely no regard for local residents, who could have been killed or injured," he said. | "They showed absolutely no regard for local residents, who could have been killed or injured," he said. |
| Upper Bann MLA John O'Dowd, from Sinn Féin, also condemned those responsible, saying they had "brought nothing but disruption to the local community". | Upper Bann MLA John O'Dowd, from Sinn Féin, also condemned those responsible, saying they had "brought nothing but disruption to the local community". |
| "Those behind this alert are not representative of the people of Lurgan and should stop these pointless actions immediately," he added. | "Those behind this alert are not representative of the people of Lurgan and should stop these pointless actions immediately," he added. |
| As a result of the security alert, the rail line between Lisburn and Portadown was closed. | As a result of the security alert, the rail line between Lisburn and Portadown was closed. |
| Families have now returned to their homes in Victoria Street following the alert. | Families have now returned to their homes in Victoria Street following the alert. |
| SDLP MLA Dolores Kelly described the attack as "not only an evil attempt to kill the PSNI but a total disregard for the people of Lurgan". | SDLP MLA Dolores Kelly described the attack as "not only an evil attempt to kill the PSNI but a total disregard for the people of Lurgan". |
| DUP councillor Carla Lockhart said the devices "were designed to murder police officers who were trying to serve their community". | DUP councillor Carla Lockhart said the devices "were designed to murder police officers who were trying to serve their community". |
| Ulster Unionist councillor Colin McCusker said he felt nothing but "despair" with regard to the incident. | Ulster Unionist councillor Colin McCusker said he felt nothing but "despair" with regard to the incident. |
| He said a small minority appeared "intent on disrupting the lives of the vast majority of people, not just in Lurgan, but the whole of Northern Ireland". | He said a small minority appeared "intent on disrupting the lives of the vast majority of people, not just in Lurgan, but the whole of Northern Ireland". |
| Police Federation Northern Ireland chairman Mark Lindsay said it was only the professionalism of those responding to the call that had meant tragedy was averted. | Police Federation Northern Ireland chairman Mark Lindsay said it was only the professionalism of those responding to the call that had meant tragedy was averted. |
| "The bravery of these officers can only be contrasted with the cowardice of those plotting such atrocities," he said. | "The bravery of these officers can only be contrasted with the cowardice of those plotting such atrocities," he said. |