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Lyra McKee murder: Journalist shot dead during Derry rioting | Lyra McKee murder: Journalist shot dead during Derry rioting |
(about 2 hours later) | |
One of Northern Ireland's "most promising" journalists has been shot dead during rioting that police are treating as a terrorist incident. | |
Dissident republicans are being blamed for killing 29-year-old Lyra McKee after violence broke out during police searches in Londonderry on Thursday. | |
Police said a group known as the New IRA "are likely to be the ones" responsible for her murder. | |
Ms McKee's partner said she had been left without "the love of my life". | |
Sara Canning, speaking at a vigil in Derry, said the journalist's dreams had been "snuffed out by a single barbaric act". | |
Prime Minister Theresa May said the killing 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 National Union of Journalists (NUJ) said Ms McKee was "one of the most promising journalists" in Northern Ireland. | |
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said that a gunman fired shots towards police officers in Derry's Creggan area at about 23:00 BST on Thursday. | |
Mobile phone footage taken by a bystander during the 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." |
Detectives have started a murder inquiry and the PSNI's Deputy Chief Constable Stephen Martin said "evil people" had been behind the killing. | |
Ms McKee's death has caused a "wave of shock and sympathy" and was "met with global condemnation, horror and revulsion", he added. | |
"The gunman and those who share his warped ideology should hang their heads in shame today - they represent no-one." | |
Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar said Ms McKee "changed lives" as a journalist and an activist and would continue to do so. | |
He said Irish people stood in "solidarity with the people of Derry" after the murder. | |
"We stand with you as strong as your walls and for as long as they stand," he said. | |
"This was an attack not just on one citizen - it was an attack on all of us, our nation and our freedoms." | |
She was a journalist of "courage, style and integrity" and a "woman of great commitment and passion", according to the NUJ'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," he added. | |
Filmmaker Alison Millar, who was due to have dinner with Ms McKee on Friday night, said her friend had been "stolen from us". | |
"Lyra was the most beautiful human being," she said. | |
"She was compassionate, she was honest, she was funny... she had so many friends and was loved by so many people." | |
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 on Thursday night 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. |