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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Strabane graveyard mortar device incident 'despicable' | Strabane graveyard mortar device incident 'despicable' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The people who left a "mortar-type device" in a graveyard in County Tyrone have been described as "despicable". | The people who left a "mortar-type device" in a graveyard in County Tyrone have been described as "despicable". |
| Police have said a clearance operation in Strabane was continuing after the device was found on Saturday evening. | Police have said a clearance operation in Strabane was continuing after the device was found on Saturday evening. |
| Searches began in the early hours of Saturday after reports that a device had been left in the Townsend Street/Cemetery Road area. | Searches began in the early hours of Saturday after reports that a device had been left in the Townsend Street/Cemetery Road area. |
| A number of elderly people had to leave their homes and the graveyard was closed for most of the day. | A number of elderly people had to leave their homes and the graveyard was closed for most of the day. |
| Officers had issued a public warning at 02:50 BST on Saturday, advising the public that the area was being searched and asking people not to touch any suspicious objects but to call police immediately. | Officers had issued a public warning at 02:50 BST on Saturday, advising the public that the area was being searched and asking people not to touch any suspicious objects but to call police immediately. |
| The day-long security operation caused significant disruption for local residents. | The day-long security operation caused significant disruption for local residents. |
| Secretary of State Theresa Villiers condemned those behind the incident. | Secretary of State Theresa Villiers condemned those behind the incident. |
| "The fact that those responsible were prepared to use a graveyard shows once again the contempt in which they hold the community," she said. | "The fact that those responsible were prepared to use a graveyard shows once again the contempt in which they hold the community," she said. |
| SDLP councillor Patsy Kelly said: "This is not the first or the second time that they've done this and I don't know why they're continually doing this because it's the people of Strabane that they are inconveniencing and disrupting. | SDLP councillor Patsy Kelly said: "This is not the first or the second time that they've done this and I don't know why they're continually doing this because it's the people of Strabane that they are inconveniencing and disrupting. |
| "People use that graveyard every day of the week, anybody could have come across that device and God knows what the consequences could have been. | "People use that graveyard every day of the week, anybody could have come across that device and God knows what the consequences could have been. |
| "To leave this in an area like this is despicable." | "To leave this in an area like this is despicable." |
| Ulster Unionist Ross Hussey said: "There is very little I can say about the mentality of people who would use the sanctity of a graveyard to attempt to murder police officers. | |
| "No doubt the people responsible would claim to be republicans fighting to 'liberate' Ireland. In reality they are a criminal gang of bully boys and fascists whose only achievement this weekend was to force local people, some in their eighties, to leave their homes in the middle of the night and seek refuge in church halls or with friends and relatives." | "No doubt the people responsible would claim to be republicans fighting to 'liberate' Ireland. In reality they are a criminal gang of bully boys and fascists whose only achievement this weekend was to force local people, some in their eighties, to leave their homes in the middle of the night and seek refuge in church halls or with friends and relatives." |
| 'Disgusted' | 'Disgusted' |
| In a statement on Saturday evening, the PSNI's district commander Supt Mark McEwan said: "We would like to thank the local people who have been inconvenienced by this operation for their patience and understanding and we are working to get them back into their homes as soon as possible. | |
| "The blame for the disruption, however, rests with those individuals or groups who appear determined to pursue an agenda of violence and destruction which can only be to the detriment to all in our community. | |
| "I would continue to appeal to everyone to work with us to reduce the threat these people pose and to keep people safe." | "I would continue to appeal to everyone to work with us to reduce the threat these people pose and to keep people safe." |
| Earlier, local resident Deirdre Harkin told BBC Radio Ulster she was "disgusted" at claims that a device had been left near a cemetery. | Earlier, local resident Deirdre Harkin told BBC Radio Ulster she was "disgusted" at claims that a device had been left near a cemetery. |
| "A place so sacred - my own mother and father are in that graveyard and I think it just should be an area that is respected," she said. | "A place so sacred - my own mother and father are in that graveyard and I think it just should be an area that is respected," she said. |
| "Throughout all the Troubles, that graveyard has never been touched and I would hate to think that now somebody would think it's a good idea to plant something in it." | "Throughout all the Troubles, that graveyard has never been touched and I would hate to think that now somebody would think it's a good idea to plant something in it." |
| 'Quite frightened' | 'Quite frightened' |
| The Townsend Street resident said her elderly neighbours had been worst affected by the disruption. | The Townsend Street resident said her elderly neighbours had been worst affected by the disruption. |
| "An 83-year-old woman had to get out of her house today, which just wasn't on. She lives alone and she was quite frightened. Her daughter-in-law had to come and get her." | "An 83-year-old woman had to get out of her house today, which just wasn't on. She lives alone and she was quite frightened. Her daughter-in-law had to come and get her." |
| Ms Harkin said another elderly neighbour, who is sick, had to take shelter in a nearby church building while the police searches took place. | Ms Harkin said another elderly neighbour, who is sick, had to take shelter in a nearby church building while the police searches took place. |