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24/11/2006
Stormont suspended after disruption
Convicted loyalist murderer Michael Stone has today forced proceedings at Stormont to be suspended after claiming to have left a bomb at Parliament Buildings.
The incident happened during a meeting between all of the political parties who had gathered at Stormont as the political deadline was reached to make a decision on the restoration of devolution.
Politicians were evacuated from Parliament Buildings after Stone, who was carrying a gun and a knife, burst into the building and left a bag, which he claimed to contain an incendiary device, on the floor.
Security staff managed to pin him to the ground, before he was arrested and escorted from the premises by police.
Army Technical Officers are currently at the scene.
Michael Stone previously served a prison term for the murder of three people whom he shot as they attended an IRA funeral at Milltown cemetery in west Belfast in 1988.
He was released from prison under the Good Friday Agreement in July 2000.
Today's incident is the latest in a number of attempts to derail the Northern Ireland political process.
Before the disruption, both Sinn Fein and the DUP had indicated their positions on nominating candidates for First and Deputy First Ministers.
Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams nominated his party's Chief Negotiator Martin McGuinness for the position of Deputy First Minister, however the DUP refused to nominate their leader, the Reverend Ian Paisley, stating that they will not sign up to the agreement until they are satisfied that Sinn Fein will openly support policing.
(EF)
The incident happened during a meeting between all of the political parties who had gathered at Stormont as the political deadline was reached to make a decision on the restoration of devolution.
Politicians were evacuated from Parliament Buildings after Stone, who was carrying a gun and a knife, burst into the building and left a bag, which he claimed to contain an incendiary device, on the floor.
Security staff managed to pin him to the ground, before he was arrested and escorted from the premises by police.
Army Technical Officers are currently at the scene.
Michael Stone previously served a prison term for the murder of three people whom he shot as they attended an IRA funeral at Milltown cemetery in west Belfast in 1988.
He was released from prison under the Good Friday Agreement in July 2000.
Today's incident is the latest in a number of attempts to derail the Northern Ireland political process.
Before the disruption, both Sinn Fein and the DUP had indicated their positions on nominating candidates for First and Deputy First Ministers.
Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams nominated his party's Chief Negotiator Martin McGuinness for the position of Deputy First Minister, however the DUP refused to nominate their leader, the Reverend Ian Paisley, stating that they will not sign up to the agreement until they are satisfied that Sinn Fein will openly support policing.
(EF)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:Gale, coastal severe gale, northwest winds ease from late afternoon. Scattered showers will fall as snow over the hills at first, becoming isolated from mid-afternoon. Maximum temperature 7 °C.Tonight:Showers, scattered in the evening, will clear by midnight leaving the night dry with clear spells. Cloud will spread east towards morning. Minimum temperature 2 °C.
