Opinion

Dissident bombers engaged in abhorrent campaign

Less than a week on from dealing with parades-related loyalist violence in north Belfast, the PSNI was again under attack, this time from dissident republicans in Lurgan who made a determined effort to kill officers in a bomb trap.

Thankfully, their evil strategy was unsuccessful but there is no doubt that considerable planning went into this murder bid.

Once again the bombers used a lure to draw police personnel into the area. A phone call claimed a device had been thrown at police but failed to explode. After evacuating the area close to Victoria Street, police found an object which was not capable of detonation.

While carrying out a search operation, a second device exploded, possibly detonated by people watching a short distance away.

Superintendent David Moore said this bomb was ``significant and absolutely designed to kill.''

Fortunately, no one was close to the blast and there were no injuries as a result of this despicable scheme.

However, as Supt Moore pointed out, this was down to police experience in dealing with such ambushes and not due to luck.

Dissident republicans have used the `come on' tactic on many occasions in recent years, setting up an elaborate trap, usually involving a fake initial incident which brings police into an area where a deadly device has been concealed.

On one early occasion a bomb was hidden under a children's bike in north Belfast while more recently officers were targeted in Strabane's Ballycolman estate when it was claimed a bomb was thrown at police only for a second viable device to be found nearby.

Every bomb planted in a bid to kill police officers also puts members of the public in severe danger.

The PSNI has to exercise caution in responding to calls but people generally need to be vigilant while these murderous thugs continue with their unjustified, unwanted and abhorrent activities.