Northern Ireland

Republican group Action Against Drugs claims responsibility for Belfast gun and bomb attacks

Action Against Drugs have threatened to shoot people involved in the drugs trade
Action Against Drugs have threatened to shoot people involved in the drugs trade Action Against Drugs have threatened to shoot people involved in the drugs trade

Republican group Action Against Drugs has claimed responsibility for seven gun and bomb attacks carried out across Belfast this week.

In a statement the paramilitary group also threatened to shoot several people it claims are drug dealers.

The group says it fired a shot a house in Laurelbank, Poleglass, on Wednesday and left several pipe bombs at various addresses across the city.

It claims it left pipe bombs at properties Victoria Parade and Lepper Street in the New Lodge area of north Belfast.

It also claims to have left a similar devices at Lavinia Gardens and at another address nearby in the Ormeau Road area of south Belfast.

The PSNI later said that the British army bomb squad attended the alerts and that all four were declared hoaxes.

The group also claims that two unexploded pipe bombs have been left in the Whiterock area of west Belfast and Ludlow Square district of New Lodge.

It also claims to have left a blast incendiary at a car in Ludlow Square in New Lodge, which they say ignited on Wednesday, while a similar device attached to a vehicle at Shaftesbury Square in the Ormeau Road area of south Belfast also went off.

The group said it launched an attack in the Mount Eagles area of Lagmore last year as well as at a house at Spamount Street in the New Lodge several months ago.

Using a recognised codeword, AAD said it will shoot drug dealers.

“This is the only warning they are getting,” it said.

Policing Board member Dolores Kelly said there is only one police force.

“There is only one police force or service in the north and that’s the PSNI,” she said.

“If anyone has concerns about criminal activity they should make that known to the lawful authority.

“The nature of these alleged attacks by self-styled judge, jury and executioner have shown a disregard for people in the community living in close proximity to these devices.”