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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Strabane: Assault rifle was to be used 'to murder police' | Strabane: Assault rifle was to be used 'to murder police' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| An assault rifle found in Strabane, County Tyrone, was to have been used in an attempt to murder PSNI officers, a police commander has said. | An assault rifle found in Strabane, County Tyrone, was to have been used in an attempt to murder PSNI officers, a police commander has said. |
| Police investigating dissident republican activity carried out searches in Melvin Road and Ballycolman Estate on Tuesday evening. | Police investigating dissident republican activity carried out searches in Melvin Road and Ballycolman Estate on Tuesday evening. |
| It followed the discovery of a mortar bomb in a graveyard at the weekend. | It followed the discovery of a mortar bomb in a graveyard at the weekend. |
| Spt Mark McEwan said: "This rifle was in control of people who were intent in killing police officers." | Spt Mark McEwan said: "This rifle was in control of people who were intent in killing police officers." |
| He added: "The gun has now been taken out of circulation which is a good thing. | He added: "The gun has now been taken out of circulation which is a good thing. |
| "This could have caused fatalities or serious harm to members of the community." | |
| He said the operation was intelligence-led and it ended at 02:00 GMT on Wednesday. | He said the operation was intelligence-led and it ended at 02:00 GMT on Wednesday. |
| 'Nothing to offer' | 'Nothing to offer' |
| "There are a number of lines inquiry at the moment about what type of attack this could have been," he said. | "There are a number of lines inquiry at the moment about what type of attack this could have been," he said. |
| "The threat to police officers across the service is severe. | "The threat to police officers across the service is severe. |
| "We believe that anyone involved in terrorist activity will always be in possession of articles to carry out attacks." | "We believe that anyone involved in terrorist activity will always be in possession of articles to carry out attacks." |
| SDLP councillor Patsy Kelly said: "Those committed to violence have nothing to offer the people of Strabane." | SDLP councillor Patsy Kelly said: "Those committed to violence have nothing to offer the people of Strabane." |
| Sinn Fein councillor Brian McMahon added: "Violent dissident republicans need to listen to the will of the people who don't support their campaign and just want to get on with their lives." | Sinn Fein councillor Brian McMahon added: "Violent dissident republicans need to listen to the will of the people who don't support their campaign and just want to get on with their lives." |