11/03/2013

Police Officers Escape Injury In Blast

Three PSNI officers escaped serious injury in a bomb attack on Saturday.

The blast occurred as police were on patrol in north Belfast.

The incident is being treated as attempted murder, while the blame for the attack is being placed on dissident republicans.

Officers were responding to a call out in the Hazelbank area at 21.15 when the attack was happened.

PSNI commander for the district Chief Superintendent Henry Irvine condemned those responsible. "This is a well-known area that is used every day by members of the local community," he said.

"It is only by good fortune that police officers and members of the public were not killed or seriously injured last night. Those who carried out this attack have shown complete disregard to the safety of the local community and the police officers serving this community."

The police and army bomb disposal carried out a search operation in the wake of the detonation.

"It is believed that the target was police officers and police are now treating it as attempted murder," said a PSNI spokeswoman.

Police have appealed for anyone who witnessed any suspicious activity or vehicles in the area from Friday morning to 21:00 on Saturday evening to contact them.

The M5 motorway reopened on Sunday night, but the towpath remained closed between the Dargan and Fortwilliam areas.

The remains of the device have been taken away for further forensic examination.

(IT)

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