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| Arrest over west Belfast gun attack on police | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A man has been arrested over a gun attack on police officers called out to a bogus burglary on the outskirts of west Belfast. | |
| Up to six shots were fired as three officers got out of their vehicle at Foxes Glen, off Stewartstown Road on Thursday afternoon. No-one was injured. | |
| Two men also narrowly escaped injury after their car was struck by the gunfire. | Two men also narrowly escaped injury after their car was struck by the gunfire. |
| The police have described it as attempted murder. | The police have described it as attempted murder. |
| A 26-year-old man was arrested in Belfast on Thursday night. A number of searches are also ongoing in greater Belfast. | |
| Chief Inspector Darrin Jones said: "It is despicable that police officers who were simply trying to give assistance to a person they believed needed them, should be attacked so ruthlessly. | Chief Inspector Darrin Jones said: "It is despicable that police officers who were simply trying to give assistance to a person they believed needed them, should be attacked so ruthlessly. |
| "I feel extremely fortunate and incredibly grateful that those responsible for this attack failed in their goal to murder. | "I feel extremely fortunate and incredibly grateful that those responsible for this attack failed in their goal to murder. |
| "We could so easily have been dealing with an unimaginable tragedy had the person or persons who pulled the trigger had their evil way." | "We could so easily have been dealing with an unimaginable tragedy had the person or persons who pulled the trigger had their evil way." |
| The PSNI said one line of inquiry is that the officers may have been "lured" to the area to be targeted. | The PSNI said one line of inquiry is that the officers may have been "lured" to the area to be targeted. |
| The gun attack happened at about 13:00 BST on Thursday. | The gun attack happened at about 13:00 BST on Thursday. |
| The street was busy with children returning from school and playgroups at the time. | The street was busy with children returning from school and playgroups at the time. |
| Resident Margaret McGrath said: "I heard shots, I heard the police car, the wheels screeching on it and then I saw them really, really drive fast out of here. | Resident Margaret McGrath said: "I heard shots, I heard the police car, the wheels screeching on it and then I saw them really, really drive fast out of here. |
| "They were speeding so I knew that something had happened. | "They were speeding so I knew that something had happened. |
| "I'm disgusted, we left this behind us a long time ago." | "I'm disgusted, we left this behind us a long time ago." |
| A number of homes were evacuated in the area as a precaution, but residents have now been allowed to return. | |
| The PSNI said: "Inquiries have established that the original burglary call was bogus." | The PSNI said: "Inquiries have established that the original burglary call was bogus." |
| Secretary of State Theresa Villiers said those behind the gun attack had "virtually no support". | Secretary of State Theresa Villiers said those behind the gun attack had "virtually no support". |
| "These officers were extremely fortunate not to have been killed or injured by such a cowardly and callous attack," she said. | "These officers were extremely fortunate not to have been killed or injured by such a cowardly and callous attack," she said. |
| "Those behind this attack have nothing to offer their community." | "Those behind this attack have nothing to offer their community." |
| Sinn Fein councillor Stephen Magennis said the gunmen had "not only jeopardised the lives of police officers but also local people including children". | Sinn Fein councillor Stephen Magennis said the gunmen had "not only jeopardised the lives of police officers but also local people including children". |
| "We are very lucky no one was injured or killed in this reckless and pointless attack," he said. | "We are very lucky no one was injured or killed in this reckless and pointless attack," he said. |
| Alliance MLA Trevor Lunn said he was concerned by "what appears to have been an attempt to lure police officers into a trap". | Alliance MLA Trevor Lunn said he was concerned by "what appears to have been an attempt to lure police officers into a trap". |
| "This just reminds us of the need to show extra vigilance, especially during the G8 when there will be a heightened security level," he said. | "This just reminds us of the need to show extra vigilance, especially during the G8 when there will be a heightened security level," he said. |