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East Belfast bomb blast: terror warning issued as prison officer is injured East Belfast bomb blast: terror warning issued as prison officer is injured
(35 minutes later)
Police in Northern Ireland have issued an Easter Rising centenary terror warning after dissident republican paramilitaries tried to kill a prison officer with a bomb attached to his car.Police in Northern Ireland have issued an Easter Rising centenary terror warning after dissident republican paramilitaries tried to kill a prison officer with a bomb attached to his car.
The man narrowly escaped death when the device exploded in a van he was driving at around 7.10am on Friday in east Belfast. The man narrowly escaped death when the device exploded in a van he was driving at about 7.10am on Friday in east Belfast.
Supt Darrin Jones said: “At this time we believe a device has exploded under a vehicle … One man has been taken to hospital.”Supt Darrin Jones said: “At this time we believe a device has exploded under a vehicle … One man has been taken to hospital.”
The 52-year-old prison officer required surgery after the explosion. His condition has been described as stable and his injuries were not thought to be life-threatening.The 52-year-old prison officer required surgery after the explosion. His condition has been described as stable and his injuries were not thought to be life-threatening.
The device exploded close to the entrance of Euston Street primary school; the Woodstock Road entrance has been closed as forensic officers search the area.The device exploded close to the entrance of Euston Street primary school; the Woodstock Road entrance has been closed as forensic officers search the area.
It is the third attack on a member of the security forces in loyalist east Belfast in recent years and it suggests that republican dissidents have an intelligence-gathering capacity that reaches into Protestant/unionist areas.It is the third attack on a member of the security forces in loyalist east Belfast in recent years and it suggests that republican dissidents have an intelligence-gathering capacity that reaches into Protestant/unionist areas.
Later on Friday, Stephen Martin, assistant chief constable in the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), raised fears that republican terror groups opposed to the peace process and power sharing in Northern Ireland would ramp up their violence as the 100th anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising against British rule approached. Later on Friday, Stephen Martin, assistant chief constable in the Police Service of Northern Ireland, raised fears that republican terror groups opposed to the peace process and power sharing in Northern Ireland would ramp up their violence as the 100th anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising against British rule approached.
Martin described the current threat from the New IRA, Continuity IRA and Óglaigh na hÉireann as “the upper end of severe”.Martin described the current threat from the New IRA, Continuity IRA and Óglaigh na hÉireann as “the upper end of severe”.
He said: “I believe there are people within dissident republican groupings who want to mark this centenary by killing police officers, prison officers and soldiers.He said: “I believe there are people within dissident republican groupings who want to mark this centenary by killing police officers, prison officers and soldiers.
“I am saying that publicly, I am saying it deliberately, and I am saying I need the help of the community. That is not inevitable, this does not need to happen, but we need the support of the community.”“I am saying that publicly, I am saying it deliberately, and I am saying I need the help of the community. That is not inevitable, this does not need to happen, but we need the support of the community.”
The 1916 rebellion triggered a nationwide armed campaign against British rule, but only resulted in the partition of Ireland in 1921 and a subsequent bitter civil war in what is now the Irish Republic.The 1916 rebellion triggered a nationwide armed campaign against British rule, but only resulted in the partition of Ireland in 1921 and a subsequent bitter civil war in what is now the Irish Republic.
Hard-line republicans opposed to majority-unionist Northern Ireland remaining within the UK have used violence to try to change the constitutional status, even though most pro-united-Ireland nationalists in the north support the now peaceful campaign of Sinn Féin for unity. Hardline republicans opposed to majority-unionist Northern Ireland remaining within the UK have used violence to try to change the constitutional status, even though most pro-united-Ireland nationalists in the north support the now peaceful campaign of Sinn Féin for unity.
Dissident republicans claim they are the true inheritors of the 1916 rebels, despite not having popular support, and argue that the situation was the same 100 years ago when the insurgents rebelled in Dublin, at a time when thousands of the city’s men were fighting in the British army on the western front.Dissident republicans claim they are the true inheritors of the 1916 rebels, despite not having popular support, and argue that the situation was the same 100 years ago when the insurgents rebelled in Dublin, at a time when thousands of the city’s men were fighting in the British army on the western front.
In November 2011, the New IRA murdered David Black, 52, a prison officer shot dead in an ambush on the M1 motorway between Lurgan and Portadown. The father of two was killed on his way to work at the top-security Maghaberry prison, outside Belfast. He was the first prison officer to be killed by paramilitaries in 20 years.In November 2011, the New IRA murdered David Black, 52, a prison officer shot dead in an ambush on the M1 motorway between Lurgan and Portadown. The father of two was killed on his way to work at the top-security Maghaberry prison, outside Belfast. He was the first prison officer to be killed by paramilitaries in 20 years.
Dissident republican prisoners have been involved in long-running disputes with the Maghaberry prison authorities over demands to be separated from other inmates and be treated as political prisoners.Dissident republican prisoners have been involved in long-running disputes with the Maghaberry prison authorities over demands to be separated from other inmates and be treated as political prisoners.
Northern Ireland’s first minister condemned those responsible for the latest incident on Friday morning. Arlene Foster said she told the deputy chief constable of the PSNI that “we stand behind him” in the face of this “disgraceful and despicable attack”.Northern Ireland’s first minister condemned those responsible for the latest incident on Friday morning. Arlene Foster said she told the deputy chief constable of the PSNI that “we stand behind him” in the face of this “disgraceful and despicable attack”.
Martin McGuinness, the Sinn Féin deputy first minister of Northern Ireland, also condemned those behind the attack. McGuinness described it on Twitter as a “despicable and futile act”, adding that his thoughts and prayers were with the man’s family.Martin McGuinness, the Sinn Féin deputy first minister of Northern Ireland, also condemned those behind the attack. McGuinness described it on Twitter as a “despicable and futile act”, adding that his thoughts and prayers were with the man’s family.
Thoughts & prayers are with the Prison Officer seriously injured in Belfast this morning.I unreservedly condemn this despicable & futile actThoughts & prayers are with the Prison Officer seriously injured in Belfast this morning.I unreservedly condemn this despicable & futile act
Meanwhile, Northern Ireland secretary Theresa Villiers urged anyone with information about the attempted murder to contact the police.Meanwhile, Northern Ireland secretary Theresa Villiers urged anyone with information about the attempted murder to contact the police.
Chris Lyttle, member of the Northern Ireland assembly for Belfast East, described the act as “a sickening echo of the past”.Chris Lyttle, member of the Northern Ireland assembly for Belfast East, described the act as “a sickening echo of the past”.
The Ulster Unionist party councillor Chris McGimpsey also condemned the attack and said it was a “worrying development”.The Ulster Unionist party councillor Chris McGimpsey also condemned the attack and said it was a “worrying development”.