Documents missing after raid on Castlereagh Barracks

Police in the North have confirmed that some documents are missing following a raid at a police station in east Belfast on Sunday night.

Three raiders, who apparently knew the lay-out of Castlereagh Barracks, entered the building and tied up a lone officer before targeting the Special Branch office. The police have launched an internal investigation into the raid and Northern Secretary John Reid announced an independent inquiry into the matter this afternoon.

Police chief constable Ronnie Flanagan has also referred the matter to the Police Ombudsman, who will keep in close contact with the senior officer investigating the break-in. Several people have suggested that the security forces were involved in the incident, but police are remaining tight-lipped while the investigation is underway.