PSNI Officers In Pipe Bomb Attack

Two police officers are unscathed but shaken following an incident in which two pipe bombs were thrown in north Belfast.

The officers were in the area responding to a 999 call in Ballysillan at about 02:00 in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

They had just stepped out of their vehicle on the Upper Crumlin Road when the devices were thrown.

They were able to take cover as the bombs exploded.

SDLP policing spokesperson Conall McDevitt said: "This was a serious attack and those behind it were clearly intent on taking the life of police officers serving the entire community. They and their actions will be condemned across Ireland. They represent nobody and their violence is futile."

DUP Deputy Leader Nigel Dodds said: "There can be no doubt that those who planned and carried out this attack intended to cause serious injury or death to police officers. It is a huge relief that no injuries were caused but this will have been a deeply shocking experience for them.

"This is a grim reminder of the threat of terrorist attack that the PSNI have to operate under as they respond to emergency calls and protect the community."

Ulster Unionist Policing Board member Ross Hussey added: "Once again evil people have sought to target the Police force which is charged with protecting and serving the entire community, and once again a local community has had its daily life disrupted, with people having to leave their homes and seek safety in the early hours of the morning.

"The people of Northern Ireland want nothing to do with the men of violence who still seek to inflict themselves on the wider community. They must be removed from our midst so that we as a society can concentrate on the issues which really matter to our citizens – namely creating jobs, providing quality housing, delivering a first class-health service and building a future for all our people."

(IT)