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Lyra McKee: Journalist shot dead during Derry rioting | |
(30 minutes later) | |
A journalist has been shot dead during rioting in Londonderry that police are treating as a "terrorist incident". | A journalist has been shot dead during rioting in Londonderry that police are treating as a "terrorist incident". |
Dissident republicans are being blamed for killing 29-year-old Lyra McKee during rioting after police searches in Derry's Creggan area on Thursday night. | Dissident republicans are being blamed for killing 29-year-old Lyra McKee during rioting after police searches in Derry's Creggan area on Thursday night. |
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said the New IRA "are likely to be the ones behind this" and detectives have started a murder inquiry. | The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said the New IRA "are likely to be the ones behind this" and detectives have started a murder inquiry. |
Prime Minister Theresa May said the murder was "shocking and senseless". | Prime Minister Theresa May said the murder was "shocking and senseless". |
Ms McKee was a journalist who "died doing her job with great courage", added Mrs May. | Ms McKee was a journalist who "died doing her job with great courage", added Mrs May. |
The PSNI said that a gunman fired shots towards police officers at about 23:00 BST on Thursday. | The PSNI said that a gunman fired shots towards police officers at about 23:00 BST on Thursday. |
Mobile phone footage taken by a bystander during Thursday night's rioting appears to show a masked gunman crouching down on the street and opening fire with a handgun. | Mobile phone footage taken by a bystander during Thursday night's rioting appears to show a masked gunman crouching down on the street and opening fire with a handgun. |
Ms McKee, who was standing near a police 4x4 vehicle, was wounded. | Ms McKee, who was standing near a police 4x4 vehicle, was wounded. |
"She was taken away from the scene in a police Land Rover to Altnagelvin Hospital but unfortunately she has died," said Assistant Chief Constable Hamilton. | "She was taken away from the scene in a police Land Rover to Altnagelvin Hospital but unfortunately she has died," said Assistant Chief Constable Hamilton. |
The leaders of Northern Ireland six biggest political parties said they were "united in rejecting those responsible for this heinous crime". | The leaders of Northern Ireland six biggest political parties said they were "united in rejecting those responsible for this heinous crime". |
In a joint statement, they said: "Lyra's murder was also an attack on all the people of this community, an attack on the peace and democratic processes. | In a joint statement, they said: "Lyra's murder was also an attack on all the people of this community, an attack on the peace and democratic processes. |
"It was a pointless and futile act to destroy the progress made over the last 20 years, which has the overwhelming support of people everywhere." | "It was a pointless and futile act to destroy the progress made over the last 20 years, which has the overwhelming support of people everywhere." |
The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) said Ms McKee was "one of the most promising journalists" in Northern Ireland. | The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) said Ms McKee was "one of the most promising journalists" in Northern Ireland. |
She was a journalist of "courage, style and integrity" and a "woman of great commitment and passion", said the union's Séamus Dooley. | She was a journalist of "courage, style and integrity" and a "woman of great commitment and passion", said the union's Séamus Dooley. |
"I have no doubt that it was that commitment which led to her presence on the streets of the Creggan last night, observing a riot situation in the city." | "I have no doubt that it was that commitment which led to her presence on the streets of the Creggan last night, observing a riot situation in the city." |
Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar said: "Our solidarity also goes out to the people of Derry and to the entire journalism community. | Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar said: "Our solidarity also goes out to the people of Derry and to the entire journalism community. |
"We cannot allow those who want to propagate violence, fear and hate to drag us back to the past." | "We cannot allow those who want to propagate violence, fear and hate to drag us back to the past." |
Analysis by Julian O'Neill, BBC News NI home affairs correspondent | Analysis by Julian O'Neill, BBC News NI home affairs correspondent |
Dissident republican activity has been increasing of late, with police in Northern Ireland fearful of a spate of violent incidents marking the anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising. | Dissident republican activity has been increasing of late, with police in Northern Ireland fearful of a spate of violent incidents marking the anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising. |
An intelligence-led operation took them into Londonderry's Creggan estate late on Thursday night in a hunt for weapons and ammunition. | An intelligence-led operation took them into Londonderry's Creggan estate late on Thursday night in a hunt for weapons and ammunition. |
They were concerned they could be used in the days ahead to attack officers. | They were concerned they could be used in the days ahead to attack officers. |
The group blamed for killing Lyra McKee is known as the New IRA and was behind a bomb attack outside the city's courthouse at the start of the year. | The group blamed for killing Lyra McKee is known as the New IRA and was behind a bomb attack outside the city's courthouse at the start of the year. |
Read more: Dissidents had shown violent intentions | Read more: Dissidents had shown violent intentions |
The violence broke out after police raids on houses in the Mulroy Park and Galliagh areas in Derry. | The violence broke out after police raids on houses in the Mulroy Park and Galliagh areas in Derry. |
"Violent dissident republicans are planning attacks in this city and we were carrying out a search operation in Creggan," said Mr Hamilton. | "Violent dissident republicans are planning attacks in this city and we were carrying out a search operation in Creggan," said Mr Hamilton. |
Rioting began at Fanad Drive in the city and more than 50 petrol bombs were thrown at police and two vehicles hijacked and set on fire. | Rioting began at Fanad Drive in the city and more than 50 petrol bombs were thrown at police and two vehicles hijacked and set on fire. |
"I believe that this was orchestrated - orchestrated to a point that they just want to have violence and attack police," said Mr Hamilton. | "I believe that this was orchestrated - orchestrated to a point that they just want to have violence and attack police," said Mr Hamilton. |
"Bringing a firearm out is a calculated and callous act." | "Bringing a firearm out is a calculated and callous act." |
One reporter who was at the scene said a gunman "came round the corner and fired shots indiscriminately towards police vehicles". | One reporter who was at the scene said a gunman "came round the corner and fired shots indiscriminately towards police vehicles". |
"There were a number of houses with families - they had all spilled out on the street to see what was happening," added Leona O'Neill. | "There were a number of houses with families - they had all spilled out on the street to see what was happening," added Leona O'Neill. |
"There were young people, there were children on the street, there were teenagers milling about and a gunman just fired indiscriminately up the street." | "There were young people, there were children on the street, there were teenagers milling about and a gunman just fired indiscriminately up the street." |
Archbishop Eamon Martin, the head of the Catholic Church in Ireland, tweeted to ask people to pray for Ms McKee's family. | Archbishop Eamon Martin, the head of the Catholic Church in Ireland, tweeted to ask people to pray for Ms McKee's family. |