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Prison worker dies after M1 shots Prison officer murdered after motorway attack
(35 minutes later)
A prison officer has died after shots were fired at his car, which then crashed on the M1 in Northern Ireland. A prison officer has been murdered after shots were fired at his car, which then crashed on the M1 in Northern Ireland.
The shooting happened on a section of the motorway between the M12 Portadown turn-off and the Lurgan interchange, heading towards Belfast. The shooting happened on the Belfast bound carriageway between the M12 Portadown exit and the Lurgan interchange at 07:30 GMT on Thursday.
It happened at about 07:30 GMT on Thursday. Police are investigating a link between the attack and a burnt-out car found in Lurgan, County Armagh.
Police are investigating a link between a burnt out car found in Lurgan, County Armagh and the incident on the M1. NI's first and deputy first ministers condemned this "brutal attack".
The DUP's Justice spokesperson Paul Givan said it was his understanding that the man who died was a member of the prison service. In a joint statement, Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness said there could be no justification for this murder.
"I want to express my shock and horror and support for the services as they carry out their investigation," he said. "People who work for the Prison Service play a crucial role in our community and any attack on them is an attack on all of us," they said.
Northern Ireland Education Minister John O'Dowd described the man's death as a "human tragedy". "Actions like this have no place in society and those who carried out this murder have nothing positive to contribute.
"There is no justification for continued conflict in this society," he said. "We refuse to let the people behind this attack divert us from building a better and peaceful future for everyone."
NI Secretary Theresa Villiers said it was "a cowardly and evil attack".
"The thoughts and deepest sympathy of us all are with the family, friends and colleagues of the murdered prison officer," she said.
"Like his colleagues across the prison service he was dedicated to serving the whole community in Northern Ireland. This is in stark contrast to the people responsible for this despicable crime."
Labour's Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary Vernon Coaker said the attack was "sickening and despicable".
"Prison officers do a remarkable job in very difficult circumstances. An attack on any one them is an attack on the criminal justice system, the law and the community," he said.
SDLP assembly member for Upper Bann, Dolores Kelly, said the incident was "sickening and disturbing".SDLP assembly member for Upper Bann, Dolores Kelly, said the incident was "sickening and disturbing".
East Belfast MP Naomi Long also expressed her sadness following the shooting. East Belfast MP Naomi Long also expressed sadness following the shooting.
"It has particular ramifications for people," she said. "It has particular ramifications for people," she said. "It is very distressing but also very upsetting in a political way. What the people in Northern Ireland want is for this to be over."
"It is very distressing but also very upsetting in a political way. This is the thirtieth prison worker to be murdered since 1974 in Northern Ireland.
"What the people in Northern Ireland want is for this to be over." The last prison officer killed was Jim Peacock who died on 1 September 1993.
Thirty prison office staff were murdered during the troubles in Northern Ireland, the last in 1993 by the loyalist paramilitary group the Ulster Volunteer Force. Loyalist paramilitary gunmen from the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) sledgehammered their way into the Peacock family's Joanmount Park home in north Belfast and shot him dead.
The motorway has been closed in both directions.The motorway has been closed in both directions.