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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Car bomb found in security alert | Car bomb found in security alert |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| A 300lb car bomb has been found in County Down five days after a telephoned warning claimed a device had been left in Castlewellan village. | A 300lb car bomb has been found in County Down five days after a telephoned warning claimed a device had been left in Castlewellan village. |
| Security forces discovered an abandoned car on Dublin Road on Saturday. Several controlled explosions were carried out on what police called "suspect items". | Security forces discovered an abandoned car on Dublin Road on Saturday. Several controlled explosions were carried out on what police called "suspect items". |
| It is thought the bomb was planted by dissident republicans who were trying to target the Ballykinler army base. | It is thought the bomb was planted by dissident republicans who were trying to target the Ballykinler army base. |
| Supt Greg Blain said it was a "large explosive device". | |
| He added that its detonation would have caused "substantial damage and loss of life". | |
| Supt Blain said someone claiming to be a member of a dissident republican organisation had called a local newspaper to warn about the bomb. We are not going back to the past - even if they are locked in it Margaret Ritchie MLA | Supt Blain said someone claiming to be a member of a dissident republican organisation had called a local newspaper to warn about the bomb. We are not going back to the past - even if they are locked in it Margaret Ritchie MLA |
| "They... abandoned it in an area close to local houses and schools, and then phoned through vague warnings about the locality and nature of the threat," he said. | "They... abandoned it in an area close to local houses and schools, and then phoned through vague warnings about the locality and nature of the threat," he said. |
| "They placed the lives of every man, woman and child in the area at risk." | "They placed the lives of every man, woman and child in the area at risk." |
| South Down Stormont Assembly member Margaret Ritchie said those behind the bomb deserved nothing but contempt from the community. | South Down Stormont Assembly member Margaret Ritchie said those behind the bomb deserved nothing but contempt from the community. |
| "For five days [people in the area] have been worried and suffered massive inconvenience, having to take long detours to get to work or bring children to school. | "For five days [people in the area] have been worried and suffered massive inconvenience, having to take long detours to get to work or bring children to school. |
| "Those who planted it should be in absolutely no doubt - we are not going back to the past, even if they are locked in it." | "Those who planted it should be in absolutely no doubt - we are not going back to the past, even if they are locked in it." |