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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, including two pizza delivery men, were also injured when gunmen struck at Massereene army base in County Antrim 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. |
The dead men, both in their early 20s were due to fly to Afghanistan in the coming days. | The dead men, both in their early 20s were due to fly to Afghanistan in the coming days. |
Gordon Brown: "The whole country is shocked and outraged" | Gordon Brown: "The whole country is shocked and outraged" |
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. |
"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." |
Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams described the shooting as an attack on the "peace process" and said it was "wrong and counter-productive". | Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams described the shooting as an attack on the "peace process" and said it was "wrong and counter-productive". |
"Those responsible have no support, no strategy to achieve a United Ireland," he said. | "Those responsible have no support, no strategy to achieve a United Ireland," he said. |
"Their intention is to bring British soldiers back onto the streets. They want to destroy the progress of recent times and to plunge Ireland back into conflict." | "Their intention is to bring British soldiers back onto the streets. They want to destroy the progress of recent times and to plunge Ireland back into conflict." |
Police at the scene outside Massereene army base in Antrim | |
Northern Ireland's First Minister and Democratic Unionist Party leader Peter Robinson offered his sympathies to the families of the victims, and said he and the Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness 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 and the Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness would postpone a scheduled trip to the United States. |
Mr Robinson said the attack was a "terrible reminder of the events of the past". | Mr Robinson said the attack was a "terrible reminder of the events of the past". |
He said information that those responsible had "deliberately turned their weapons on civilians" after murdering the soldiers gave an "idea of the crazed gunmen involved in this". | He said information that those responsible had "deliberately turned their weapons on civilians" after murdering the soldiers gave an "idea of the crazed gunmen involved in this". |
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 | |
"It is the duty of everyone to ensure these people are defeated," he said. | "It is the duty of everyone to ensure these people are defeated," he said. |
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". |
All four injured men are being treated at Antrim Area Hospital, about a mile away from the scene. | All four injured men are being treated at Antrim Area Hospital, about a mile away from the scene. |
Pizza | Pizza |
Of those who were injured, one person is critical, two are in a serious condition and another is serious but stable. | Of those who were injured, one person is critical, two are in a serious condition and another is serious but stable. |
Chief superintendent Derek Williamson said at about 2120 GMT on Saturday night a pizza delivery service sent two delivery men to the Antrim barracks. As they arrived, shots began to be fired from a car. | Chief superintendent Derek Williamson said at about 2120 GMT on Saturday night a pizza delivery service sent two delivery men to the Antrim barracks. As they arrived, shots began to be fired from a car. |
He said the pizza delivery men were an innocent party and both were among those injured. | He said the pizza delivery men were an innocent party and both were among those injured. |
After two gunmen with automatic rifles fired an initial volley of shots, which left those under attack lying on the ground, they moved forward and opened fire again. | After two gunmen with automatic rifles fired an initial volley of shots, which left those under attack lying on the ground, they moved forward and opened fire again. |
SOLDIERS IN NORTHERN IRELAND More than 500 soldiers have been killed during the conflictLast solider killed was Stephen Restorick, shot by the IRA in 1997At height of conflict 27,000 soldiers were in Northern IrelandThere are now about 5,000 soldiers in Northern Ireland | SOLDIERS IN NORTHERN IRELAND More than 500 soldiers have been killed during the conflictLast solider killed was Stephen Restorick, shot by the IRA in 1997At height of conflict 27,000 soldiers were in Northern IrelandThere are now about 5,000 soldiers in Northern Ireland |
He said: "There's no doubt whatsoever in my mind that this was an attempt at mass murder." | He said: "There's no doubt whatsoever in my mind that this was an attempt at mass murder." |
The area surrounding the barracks, which is home to 38 Engineering Regiment, has been sealed off. | The area surrounding the barracks, which is home to 38 Engineering Regiment, has been sealed off. |
The delivery drivers bullet-riddled cars are still at the scene. | The delivery drivers bullet-riddled cars are still at the scene. |
Police are examining a car in Randalstown, five miles from the army base, which they suspect may have been used by the gunmen. | Police are examining a car in Randalstown, five miles from the army base, which they suspect may have been used by the gunmen. |
The Police Service of Northern Ireland chief constable, Sir Hugh Orde said there was no intention to introduce more army special forces following the shooting. | The Police Service of Northern Ireland chief constable, Sir Hugh Orde said there was no intention to introduce more army special forces following the shooting. |
He said he did not believe there was any connection between the announcement that army surveillance teams had been brought in to Northern Ireland. He said people should remember that not only had the gunmen killed members of the military but that they had also tried to kill a number of civilians. | He said he did not believe there was any connection between the announcement that army surveillance teams had been brought in to Northern Ireland. He said people should remember that not only had the gunmen killed members of the military but that they had also tried to kill a number of civilians. |
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. |