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Republican dissidents thought to be behind punishment attacks on PSNI Republican dissidents thought to be behind punishment attacks on PSNI
(8 days later)
A family had a narrow escape in Derry on Sunday evening after a bomb thrown at a police patrol missed its target and exploded in their garden.A family had a narrow escape in Derry on Sunday evening after a bomb thrown at a police patrol missed its target and exploded in their garden.
The pipe bomb device was hurled at Police Service of Northern Ireland officers travelling in an armoured vehicle in the Creggan area of the city. The pipe bomb device was hurled at Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) officers travelling in an armoured vehicle in the Creggan area of the city.
At the same time of the explosion the PSNI were dealing with a shooting incident nearby in the Shantallow area of Derry.At the same time of the explosion the PSNI were dealing with a shooting incident nearby in the Shantallow area of Derry.
A young man was shot in both legs in what a local member of the Northern Ireland Assembly described as a “punishment shooting”.A young man was shot in both legs in what a local member of the Northern Ireland Assembly described as a “punishment shooting”.
Both incidents are being blamed on republican dissidents which have a presence in Derry and have been active both in targeting police and carrying out “punishment attacks” over the last few months.Both incidents are being blamed on republican dissidents which have a presence in Derry and have been active both in targeting police and carrying out “punishment attacks” over the last few months.
Former Derry Mayor and SDLP Assembly member Pat Ramsay described those behind both attacks as “violent thugs.” Former mayor of Derry and SDLP Assembly member Pat Ramsay described those behind both attacks as “violent thugs”.
On the bomb attack, Ramsay said: “It’s simply through luck, rather than design, that this attack didn’t take the lives of police officers or residents. It’s simpy an outrageous attack on our community.”On the bomb attack, Ramsay said: “It’s simply through luck, rather than design, that this attack didn’t take the lives of police officers or residents. It’s simpy an outrageous attack on our community.”
Ramsay also denounced those behind the latest “punishment shooting” in Derry city over the last 24 hours. Ramsay also denounced those behind the shooting.
“Those behind it have once again taken the law into their own hands and dispensed a vile form of rough justice. There is no room for this kind of savage attack in the prosperous Derry we’re trying to build,” the SDLP representative said. “Those behind it have once again taken the law into their own hands and dispensed a vile form of rough justice. There is no room for this kind of savage attack in the prosperous Derry we’re trying to build,” he said.
Over the weekend a Sinn Féin councillor in Derry revealed that another victim of “punishment shootings” turned up to be shot “by appointment” on Saturday. Over the weekend a Sinn Féin councillor in Derry revealed that another victim of punishment shootings turned up to be shot “by appointment” on Saturday.
Councillor Eric McGinley said the 42-year-old man targeted in the shooting had been given a time and place to turn up for the shooting.Councillor Eric McGinley said the 42-year-old man targeted in the shooting had been given a time and place to turn up for the shooting.
“This is a very worrying development as it’s the second shooting in this area in just over a month,” he said.“This is a very worrying development as it’s the second shooting in this area in just over a month,” he said.