Probe As Lurgan Bomb Planted On Brexit Day

Police have confirmed they were investigating reports of a bomb due to travel on the Belfast to Scotland ferry when the device was discovered in Lurgan.

The Terrorism Investigation Unit were first informed on Friday 31 January, the day the UK left the EU, that an explosive had been planted in a lorry in Belfast docks.

A multi-agency operation followed over the weekend, with the device located and stabilised at Silverwood Industrial Estate in Lurgan on Tuesday evening, 04 January.

Police said it's clear the bomb was a deliberate attempt by dissident republicans to risk the lives of the lorry driver, other road users and the wider public.

Detective Superintendent Sean Wright said the public was at "serious risk of injury and possible death" as a result of the reckless bomb.

Following news of the "sinister twist", UUP MLA Doug Beattie urged the UK Government to treat the bomb as a matter of National Security.

"This was a very deliberate attempt to cause an explosion on a ferry, and given the inherent instability of these devices, it could easily have detonated in the lorry's yard, on the M1, in the middle of Belfast or on a ferry itself in the middle of the Irish Sea," the Upper Bann MLA warned.

"Without a doubt it was an attempt to isolate Northern Ireland from the rest of Great Britain by creating a threat to on-board ferry traffic. Had it exploded on the ferry it could have created a fireball that would have taken the route of least resistance and spread through open spaces, walkways and corridors to engulf anyone in its path be they men, women or children. Had this been on a ferry from Dover to Calais the UK Government would be mobilising every asset possible to track down the perpetrators; I call on them to do so with this, and treat it as the National Security threat which it is.

"We are dealing with people here who do not give a damn about the safety of anyone else. These are the type of fascists who bombed Omagh and who have taken their cue from those who organised the Bloody Friday, La Mon and Enniskillen bombings.

"It is clear that violent republicans do not care for the people of Northern Ireland regardless of what community they come from."

Police had initially conducted checks of the harbour area on 31 January and worked with Police Scotland in an attempt to locate the device.

Further information then pointed to a named haulage company sparking a search operation of over 400 vehicles.

DS Wright condemned those responsible for endangering public lives.

"Had this vehicle travelled and the device had exploded at any point along the M1, across the Westlink or into the Harbour estate the risks posed do not bear thinking about. The only conclusion that we can draw is that once again Dissident Republicans have shown a total disregard for the community, for businesses and for wider society."

Anyone who was in the area of Silverwood Industrial Estate between 4.00pm and 10.00pm on Friday, 31 January and who noticed any unusual activity in the area is urged to contact police. Motorists are urged to check their dash cam footage as a matter of urgency.

Police can be contacted on the non-emergency number 101. Alternatively, information can be provided anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.



(JG/CM)