‘Device designed to kill’

Chief Superintendent Stephen Martin was speaking at a press conference at Strand Road PSNI Station this morning after four men in their forties were detained in the city last night, (Thursday, December 6, 2012). The suspects are currently being questioned in Antrim Serious Crime Suite.

Revealing that the home made rocket-type device is of the nature used extensively by insurgents in both Iraq and Afghanistan, he said he was in no doubt that the object was to be used in an attempt to murder police officers.

Three men were arrested after being taken out of the black Renault Megane car they were travelling in, whilst a fourth was detained nearby. The incident occurred around 8.40pm on Thursday evening close to a school were a talent show had been taking place. Residents in the area, some elderly, were evacuated from their homes for a period to a nearby leisure centre whilst Army Technical Officers diffused the bomb.

“This is a weapon which is primarily used to attack armoured vehicles and kill the occupants of those vehicles,” said Mr Martin.

He continued: “So, we are obviously concerned that there was one of these in the city last night, but delighted that we have been able to take it out of circulation before it was used for its deadly purpose.”

The Chief Superintendent said that this is the fourth such device seized in Northern Ireland in recent times, by the first to be discovered in Londonderry.

Police in the city confirmed that detectives from the Serious Crime Branch were involved in making the arrests in what police say is part of an ongoing offensive against dissident republican activity in the city.

The Sentinel also understands that the PSNI began a series of raids in the Creggan area at around 4am this morning including one at the home of one of the suspects currently being questioned.

Police maintained a highly visible presence in the Westway area this morning around twelve hours after the incident and police vehicles were circling all routes into and out of the lower part of Creggan at around 9am.

Recently it has been claimed that a significant amount of dissident republicans have been operating in the area. Previously thought to have been loosely aligned to the Real IRA it is now understood they have become linked to a ‘united’ group being referred to as the ‘new’ IRA. This grouping recently claimed responsibility for the murder of Prison Officer David Black.

Chairman of the Policing Board, Brian Rea said: “The police actions in finding this device have undoubtedly prevented death, injury or destruction. These people do not care whose lives they disrupt or hurt and in this case the police believe they were the intended target.

“The police do need the support and help of the community fir the work trhey are doing. I urge anyone with information on those who are trying to undermine our peace to pass that to the police or Crimestoppers.”