Culture bombers deaf to people

The Minister said everyone needed to demonstrate to all terrorists that they have nothing to offer.

He made the comments when asked to detail the current level of dissident republican activity and the threat it poses to members of the security forces and the general public.

He stated: “The threat from dissident Republicans remains SEVERE. To date this year they have been responsible for 25 attacks; compared to 40 in 2010 as a whole.

“It is clear that their principal target is police officers, as illustrated by the pipe bomb attack on the home of a retired police officer in Lawrencetown on 20 October.

“But they have also conducted recent attacks on commercial premises and on the Derry/Londonderry City of Culture office. They have demonstrated disregard for those serving the community and for public safety. Those responsible have no regard for the harm they cause whether to people, or business or, indeed, our image abroad.”

Mr Ford said the PSNI and An Garda Síochána are continuing to work hard to tackle the threat and acknowledged their continued endeavours in frustrating the efforts of terrorists.

“There have been significant successes both sides of the border in recent months,” he noted.

He said the problem is not merely a policing issue but that all of civic society has a role to play.

“The way forward, of course, depends not simply on police to provide the answer. This is an issue for the Executive, Assembly and community.

“The message is clear, as demonstrated recently when this Assembly stood united against terrorism and through the united response to the attack on the City of Culture office. Those responsible appear to be deaf to the will of the vast majority of the people of Northern Ireland.

“We need to continue to demonstrate to all terrorists that they have nothing to offer and that there are democratic means for engagement,” he stated.