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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Brown condemns N Ireland killings | Brown condemns N Ireland killings |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Gordon Brown has condemned an attack on an army base in Northern Ireland which killed two soldiers. | Gordon Brown has condemned an attack on an army base in Northern Ireland which killed two soldiers. |
| Four other people were also injured when gunmen struck at Massereene army base in County Antrim, 16 miles north of Belfast, on Saturday night. | Four other people were also injured when gunmen struck at Massereene army base in County Antrim, 16 miles north of Belfast, on Saturday night. |
| The prime minister described the attack as "evil" and said "no murderer" would derail the peace process. | The prime minister described the attack as "evil" and said "no murderer" would derail the peace process. |
| No one has said they carried out the attack, but it is thought to be the work of dissident republicans. | No one has said they carried out the attack, but it is thought to be the work of dissident republicans. |
| The soldiers are the first to be murdered in Northern Ireland since Lance Bombardier Stephen Restorick was killed by an IRA sniper in 1997. | The soldiers are the first to be murdered in Northern Ireland since Lance Bombardier Stephen Restorick was killed by an IRA sniper in 1997. |
| 'Shocked' | 'Shocked' |
| Mr Brown told the BBC: "I think the whole country is shocked and outraged at the evil and cowardly attacks on soldiers serving their country | Mr Brown told the BBC: "I think the whole country is shocked and outraged at the evil and cowardly attacks on soldiers serving their country |
| "We will do everything in our power to make sure that Northern Ireland is safe and secure and I assure you we will bring these murderers to justice. | "We will do everything in our power to make sure that Northern Ireland is safe and secure and I assure you we will bring these murderers to justice. |
| Police at the scene outside Massereene army base in Antrim | |
| "No murderer will be able to derail a peace process that has the support of the great majority of Northern Ireland." | "No murderer will be able to derail a peace process that has the support of the great majority of Northern Ireland." |
| Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward condemned the shootings as "an act of criminal barbarism". | Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward condemned the shootings as "an act of criminal barbarism". |
| Earlier reports suggested all those killed and injured were male. The MoD said the next of kin had been informed. | Earlier reports suggested all those killed and injured were male. The MoD said the next of kin had been informed. |
| All four injured men have been taken to Antrim Area Hospital, about a mile away from the scene. | All four injured men have been taken to Antrim Area Hospital, about a mile away from the scene. |
| Of those who were injured, one person is critical, two are in serious condition and another is serious but stable. | Of those who were injured, one person is critical, two are in serious condition and another is serious but stable. |
| 'Loud bangs' | 'Loud bangs' |
| A police spokesman said gunmen opened fire as a pizza delivery van pulled up to the army base, and two of the injured were pizza delivery men. | |
| It is believed that there were two long bursts of gunfire during the incident. | It is believed that there were two long bursts of gunfire during the incident. |
| The attack is part of an attempt by dissident republicans to wreck the peace process and bring down the power-sharing Stormont Assembly Mark SimpsonIreland correspondent, BBC News Testing time for Northern IrelandAntrim shooting: Political reaction | |
| A major security operation is under way and the area surrounding the barracks, which is home to 38 Engineering Regiment, has been sealed off. | A major security operation is under way and the area surrounding the barracks, which is home to 38 Engineering Regiment, has been sealed off. |
| One witness who lives near the base told the BBC how he looked to the sky after hearing what he thought were fireworks. | One witness who lives near the base told the BBC how he looked to the sky after hearing what he thought were fireworks. |
| He added: "Then I heard a lot of loud bangs again, only it was a lot more than there was initially - maybe between 10 and 20. | |
| "Then the siren at the Army barracks went off. Then all you heard was the police sirens and ambulances and there was at least six ambulances. | "Then the siren at the Army barracks went off. Then all you heard was the police sirens and ambulances and there was at least six ambulances. |
| "There was definitely six of the ambulances and God knows how many police cars - they just came out of the police station one after the other." | "There was definitely six of the ambulances and God knows how many police cars - they just came out of the police station one after the other." |
| Northern Ireland's First Minister and Democratic Unionist Party leader Peter Robinson offered his sympathies to the families of the victims, and said he would postpone a scheduled trip to the United States. | Northern Ireland's First Minister and Democratic Unionist Party leader Peter Robinson offered his sympathies to the families of the victims, and said he would postpone a scheduled trip to the United States. |
| Mr Robinson said the attack was "terrible reminder of the events of the past". | Mr Robinson said the attack was "terrible reminder of the events of the past". |
| Rev Dr William McCrea at Massereene Barracks | Rev Dr William McCrea at Massereene Barracks |
| David Ford, the leader of the Alliance Party, said it was "inconceivable" that the attack could have been carried out by anyone other than dissident republicans. | David Ford, the leader of the Alliance Party, said it was "inconceivable" that the attack could have been carried out by anyone other than dissident republicans. |
| "The important thing is that we must not see politics and the peace settlement that we have, fragile though it is, destabilised by this kind of action," he added. | "The important thing is that we must not see politics and the peace settlement that we have, fragile though it is, destabilised by this kind of action," he added. |
| The attack comes shortly after Sir Hugh Orde, the chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, requested the Special Reconnaissance Regiment's help to gather intelligence on dissident republicans. | The attack comes shortly after Sir Hugh Orde, the chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, requested the Special Reconnaissance Regiment's help to gather intelligence on dissident republicans. |
| Mr Robinson said the Massereene attack vindicated his decision, which had been criticised by Sinn Fein. | Mr Robinson said the Massereene attack vindicated his decision, which had been criticised by Sinn Fein. |
| In 2008, dissident republicans attempted to kill PSNI officers during separate incidents in Derry City and Dungannon, Co Tyrone. | In 2008, dissident republicans attempted to kill PSNI officers during separate incidents in Derry City and Dungannon, Co Tyrone. |
| Security forces defused a 300lb (136kg) bomb in Castlewellan, Co Down, close to a barracks in February 2009. | Security forces defused a 300lb (136kg) bomb in Castlewellan, Co Down, close to a barracks in February 2009. |
| Ian Paisley Jnr, a DUP member of the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Policing Board, said the shooting could prove to be a defining moment in Northern Ireland's history. | Ian Paisley Jnr, a DUP member of the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Policing Board, said the shooting could prove to be a defining moment in Northern Ireland's history. |
| He said: "For the last 10 years, people believed things like this happened in foreign countries, places like Basra. Unfortunately it has returned to our doorstep." | He said: "For the last 10 years, people believed things like this happened in foreign countries, places like Basra. Unfortunately it has returned to our doorstep." |
| The leader of the nationalist SDLP, Mark Durkan, condemned the "murderous" attacks. | The leader of the nationalist SDLP, Mark Durkan, condemned the "murderous" attacks. |
| "Those who committed it are steeped in the mindset and means of past violence," he added. | "Those who committed it are steeped in the mindset and means of past violence," he added. |
| Are you near the Massereene barracks? Did you witness or hear the shootings? What does this mean for peace in Northern Ireland? Send us your comments and experiences below. | Are you near the Massereene barracks? Did you witness or hear the shootings? What does this mean for peace in Northern Ireland? Send us your comments and experiences below. |
| In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |