PFNI Condemns Police Murder Bid

The Chair of the Police Federation for Northern Ireland, Mark Lindsay, has condemned republican terrorists who laid a bomb designed to kill security force personnel in County Fermanagh as "depraved and sick".

A device exploded in Newtownbutler on Monday morning, 19 August, while police officers and army bomb disposal experts worked in the area. No one was injured, however police believe it was a deliberate attempt to kill officers, who had been lured to the area with reports of another device near Wattle Bridge.

The explosion occurred on the main A3 Cavan Road and follows similar incidents in Craigavon and east Belfast in recent months.

Mr Lindsay said the Newtownbutler attack also placed members of the local community at risk.

"The people who planned this murderous act are heartless and merciless," he said. "They have to be apprehended and I would appeal to anyone who knows anything about this latest attack on our officers to report it immediately.

"These people have had the intent of murdering police officers or our military colleagues for some considerable time but are now showing an increased capability in carrying out such attacks and this is extremely worrying. In doing so, they demonstrate that they care little about the community they purport to represent.

"Just as they are a constant threat to our officers, they are also a serious threat to civilians who want nothing more than to go about their lives without being murdered.

"Attacks like this and earlier ones in Craigavon and East Belfast illustrate just what the men and women I represent have to deal with on an ongoing basis. They do sterling work in safeguarding the community, and I would call on people to help the police to track down the republican terrorists responsible and bring them before the Courts."



(JG/CM)