Northern Ireland

PSNI report shows drop in paramilitary bombings, shootings and attacks

A gang of masked men intimidating a family in Carrickfergus in September.
A gang of masked men intimidating a family in Carrickfergus in September. A gang of masked men intimidating a family in Carrickfergus in September.

POLICE have reported a drop in bombings, shootings and paramilitary attacks in the last year.

Between October 1, 2021 and September 30 there was one security related death, the same as in the last 12 months.

Four bombing incidents were reported compared to seven the previous year and 25 shootings compared to 34.

There were 29 casualties of paramilitary style assaults, compared to 39.

Paramilitary style shootings accounted for seven casualties, down from 19.

There were 119 security related arrests using anti-terror legislation, the same as the previous year. A total of 14 were then charged, compared with 17.

The security related death refers to the shooting of Mark Hall (31), who was gunned down in his family home in December 2021.

Police are investigating a link between his murder and five others including Sean Fox (42), who was executed by gunmen at Donegal Celtic sports club in Belfast on October 2.

Last month, there were fresh calls for a crackdown on loyalist paramilitaries after a gang of masked men thought to be from the UVF was videoed intimidating a family in Carrickfergus.

In August, a long-running investigation into the New IRA resulted in several arrests as part of a joint operation between the PSNI and MI5.

In March, the Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney was evacuated from a peace building event in north Belfast after a hoax bomb alert.

Police blamed the UVF for forcing an electrician to drive his van to the event, having been told a viable device had been placed in his vehicle.