07/03/2016

IRA Claims Responsibility For Prison Officer Attack

A group calling itself the IRA has claimed responsibility after a bomb exploded under a prison officer's van in east Belfast, according to reports.

The incident happened in the Woodstock Road area on Friday morning.

The 52-year-old victim remains in hospital, however his injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

In a statement to the BBC, the group said the officer was targeted for training officers at Maghaberry Prison in Co Antrim.

A spokesperson from the group is understood to have told the BBC the attack was the result of an ongoing dispute between dissidents and the prison authorities about their treatment in the prison, and the officer was on a list of "potential targets".

Three men and a woman have been arrested in connection with the attack.

(CD/JP)

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