Police blame dissidents for prison bomb attack

The police are blaming dissident republicans for a bomb attack outside Maghaberry Prison in County Antrim.

A white 4x4 jeep containing a bomb weighing nearly 150lbs of home made explosives was left outside the prison entrance late on Sunday April 28.

The detonator exploded but the bomb did not go off in the attack which occurred shortly after 10.30pm.

Staff and prisoners were evacuated although no one was injured.

Maghaberry is a high security prison housing male, long-term and remand prisoners and all female prisoners. It already holds the largest number of prisoners of all Northern Ireland prison establishments.

Witnesses have since reported a number of men made off in a second vehicle, a Honda Accord, after the white Mitsubishi jeep was spotted outside the perimeter gates of the prison.

An army bomb disposal team spent several hours examining the scene before taking the jeep away for further forensic examination.

The police said the jeep was stolen from the Dublin area on the 13 or 14 April.

Police in Lisburn have appealed to anyone who may have seen the bomb vehicle in the Maghaberry area or another vehicle drive at speed to contact them on the Crimestoppers line 0800 555 111.

(AMcE)