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| Fracking firm Tamboran worker's home attacked with petrol bombs | Fracking firm Tamboran worker's home attacked with petrol bombs |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The company exploring for shale gas in County Fermanagh has confirmed that the family home of one of its site workers has been attacked with petrol bombs. | The company exploring for shale gas in County Fermanagh has confirmed that the family home of one of its site workers has been attacked with petrol bombs. |
| Two petrol bombs were thrown at the house in Letterbreen during the early hours of Sunday, but no-one was hurt. | Two petrol bombs were thrown at the house in Letterbreen during the early hours of Sunday, but no-one was hurt. |
| The fracking firm, Tamboran, said it followed a number of unlawful incidents and threats to its security staff. | The fracking firm, Tamboran, said it followed a number of unlawful incidents and threats to its security staff. |
| Staff were threatened at a quarry in Belcoo, where Tamboran is intending to drill a gas exploration borehole. | Staff were threatened at a quarry in Belcoo, where Tamboran is intending to drill a gas exploration borehole. |
| 'Orchestrated' | 'Orchestrated' |
| The company has faced opposition to its plans and protesters have held vigils outside the quarry. | The company has faced opposition to its plans and protesters have held vigils outside the quarry. |
| In a statement on Monday, the firm described the weekend petrol bombing of its employee's home as "an orchestrated and abhorrent attack on a local family in the middle of the night". | In a statement on Monday, the firm described the weekend petrol bombing of its employee's home as "an orchestrated and abhorrent attack on a local family in the middle of the night". |
| "Tamboran fully respects the right to peaceful protest," the firm's statement added. | "Tamboran fully respects the right to peaceful protest," the firm's statement added. |
| "We welcome calls from those who have called for any protests to be peaceful. However, we cannot ignore such attacks. | "We welcome calls from those who have called for any protests to be peaceful. However, we cannot ignore such attacks. |
| "We call on all local political, community and anti-fracking representatives to unequivocally condemn this petrol bombing attack and to encourage people to share any information they have with the PSNI." | "We call on all local political, community and anti-fracking representatives to unequivocally condemn this petrol bombing attack and to encourage people to share any information they have with the PSNI." |
| The anti-fracking campaign group, Belcoo Frack Free, criticised those who carried out the petrol bombing. | The anti-fracking campaign group, Belcoo Frack Free, criticised those who carried out the petrol bombing. |
| Its spokesman, Donal O'Cofaigh, said: "This attack is wrong and we condemn it. Such actions only undermine our goal of putting a halt to shale gas exploration. | Its spokesman, Donal O'Cofaigh, said: "This attack is wrong and we condemn it. Such actions only undermine our goal of putting a halt to shale gas exploration. |
| "We ask those responsible to desist immediately. This action is not in our name." | "We ask those responsible to desist immediately. This action is not in our name." |
| The MP for the area, Sinn Féin's Michele Gildernew, said someone could have been seriously injured and she "unreservedly" condemned the attack. | |
| "While the vast majority of people in Fermanagh and further afield oppose fracking, this is not the way to express that opposition," she said. | |
| Ms Gildernew said her party was "totally opposed to fracking and will block any proposals to frack in Fermanagh if and when that comes before the executive." | |
| 'Dangerous activity' | |
| Ulster Unionist MLA Tom Elliott also condemned the attack, saying there was "no excuse for such dangerous, criminal activity". | Ulster Unionist MLA Tom Elliott also condemned the attack, saying there was "no excuse for such dangerous, criminal activity". |
| "While many people, including myself, have concerns about the proposals to carry out fracking in Fermanagh, it does not justify terrorist-type campaigns against the process and those involved in it," Mr Elliott added. | |
| The company said it was "operating within the terms of the licence it was awarded by the Northern Ireland Executive to explore for natural gas in Northern Ireland". | The company said it was "operating within the terms of the licence it was awarded by the Northern Ireland Executive to explore for natural gas in Northern Ireland". |
| The purpose of drilling the borehole is to collect rock samples and it will not involve fracking. | The purpose of drilling the borehole is to collect rock samples and it will not involve fracking. |
| However, if the samples show commercially viable levels of gas, Tamboran will begin a process that could lead to fracking. | However, if the samples show commercially viable levels of gas, Tamboran will begin a process that could lead to fracking. |
| The attack on the site worker's house at Station Road, Letterbreen, happened at about 03:25 BST on Sunday. | The attack on the site worker's house at Station Road, Letterbreen, happened at about 03:25 BST on Sunday. |
| Police are investigating and want to speak to the driver of a dark- coloured Audi estate car that was seen in the area at the time. | Police are investigating and want to speak to the driver of a dark- coloured Audi estate car that was seen in the area at the time. |