Officers have escaped injury in a bomb attack in Co Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. Police have said the attack was a “deliberate attempt” to lure them there “to murder them”.
Sky News
The device exploded Monday morning as police and army bomb disposal officers were searching the area near Newtownbutler in Co Fermanagh. PSNI Deputy Chief Constable Stephen Martin said it was a “reckless and indiscriminate” attempt to kill police officers.
The device was uncovered during a security operation which was launched after a warning. It was understood as a hoax device, it was found on Sunday night and during a follow up search it went off on Monday morning.
DCC Martin said there has been five attempts to murder police officers in Northern Ireland this year. DCC Martin believes the threat is from Northern Ireland related terrorism which has “has not decreased and has remained severe since 2009”.
“There people within our community who know who did this, my message to them is simple: please step forward and do the right thing” DDC said.
Northern Ireland has not had a devolved government since January 2017. Power sharing collapsed in a disagreement between Sinn Féin and the DUP over a flawed green-energy scheme.
The police believe the bomb attack may have been carried out by either the Continuity IRA or New IRA.
Deputy Chief Constable Stephen Martin says officers at the scene report hearing an ‘exceptionally loud explosion’ in Newtownbutler. He believes this attack was carried out by the Continuity IRA or the New IRA. pic.twitter.com/kJ4oS7Eu6k
— Police Service NI (@PoliceServiceNI) August 19, 2019
DUP leader Arlene Foster tweeted: “My thoughts are with the police officers / ATOs who escaped injury in Wattle Bridge. A reminder of the bravery of our security forces.
“The threat from republican terrorists still exists. It’s time they left the stage & allowed everyone to move on. This was a clear attempt to kill.”
PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne tweeted: “The bomb attack in Fermanagh this morning is a sinister development. A clear and deliberate attempt to murder @PoliceServiceNI officers.
“I strongly condemn these actions and express my sincere thanks to both the Officers and Army personnel for their work in securing the area.”
The area where the bomb was found is a rural border community, it is a community of farms and houses. The bomb went off near the Cavan Road junction with the Wattlebridge Road.The initial report received by police indicated that a device had been left on the Wattlebridge Road however, the explosion occurred on the main A3 Cavan Road.
