Dissident Bomb Attack On PSNI Condemned

There has been condemnation of a pipe bomb in the grounds of a west Belfast police station.

Sinn Féin Councillor Gerard O'Neill commented on the bomb attack in the grounds of Woodbourne PSNI station yesterday and said: "Those responsible for this attack have endangered the lives of people in the local community.

"The people behind this attack are undoubtedly associated with he groups responsible for orchestrating the recent violence, disruption and anti-community behaviour in nationalist areas of Belfast over the Twelfth."

The device was discovered at Woodbourne PSNI station on the Stewartstown Road and while no damage was caused and a full search of the grounds did not uncover any other devices, dissident republican paramilitaries have been blamed for the explosion as they have been responsible for a series of bomb attacks on police stations and for the four days of rioting around the Ardoyne interface.

SDLP Councillor Tim Attwood also condemned those who left the bomb, noting that, in February, a pipe bomb was thrown at Oldpark police station in north Belfast causing damage to fencing at the perimeter wall.

Stormont First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness also met with community leaders from north Belfast to discuss recent events in the area.

Mr Robinson said: "The Executive is determined to do all that it can to ensure that the events of recent weeks in north Belfast will not be repeated. We are committed to assisting community leaders in their efforts to prevent further violence.

"Delivering the Strategic Good Relations Programme and building on the positive contribution made by the Community Empowerment Partnerships are key elements in the promotion of good relations."

Just hours after the west Belfast bomb attack was discovered, and just a week after the post-Twelfth rioting finally subsided in Ardoyne, he said: "We remain firmly committed to promoting relationships both across and within the communities of north Belfast and are keen to work with community leaders to identify how we can best direct constrained resources to achieve maximum impact on the ground."

Mr McGuinness said: "We all witnessed the recent scenes as they unfolded in north Belfast. Today we met with community leaders to hear how these events have impacted on the community and to identify actions to ensure they are not repeated.

"Those involved in recent violence are not representative of, nor have the support of the communities. The way forward is through dialogue, respect and agreement," her said, noting, they would tackle prejudice and hate.

Meanwhile, five men have been arrested and two guns recovered during a police operation in west Belfast.

Officers stopped a car and arrested the men on the Falls Road at about 10pm after an incident a few minutes earlier on the nearby St James Road.

It is understood a man was the target of a so-called punishment shooting in a house. It is believed that although a shot was fired, he was not injured.

Dissident republican paramilitaries have been responsible for a series of similar shootings.

(BMcC/GK)