Police appeal for information on Semtex rocket attacks

A republican gang that launched a failed rocket attack against three community police officers must be taken off the streets, investigators said today.

Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) detectives tracking the dissident republicans who carried out the attack last Saturday night appealed for help from the public.

Three officers escaped serious injury when a rocket packed with the powerful Semtex explosive was fired at officers in the border village of Lisnaskea, Co Fermanagh, but failed to detonate.

Fermanagh Area Commander, Chief Inspector Alwyn Barton, warned that anyone with information on the attack who failed to share it with police was as guilty as the would-be killers.

"I am confident that the community will support this appeal and will come forward with information, because to have information and not provide it means you are as guilty as those who tried to carry out the murders," he said.

Mr Barton asked for help from anyone who saw the vehicle used in the attack, described as a white five-door Ford Escort with black bumpers, which was carrying Co Louth registration plates.

He said people in the area were supporting the investigation but he appealed for anyone with information who had yet to come forward to search their conscience.

"We need to catch those who did this and we need active community involvement to achieve this," he said.

"The threat comes from a small group of individuals who have little or no support.

"These so-called dissidents must see clearly that the people of this country have made the choice to support law and order; to support safety and security and to support those men and women who put on the police uniform to deliver that safety and security.

"We need local people to come forward with information which will help us, help us to put these individuals behind bars and make the community safer for everyone."

On Thursday a man aged in his early 30s arrested by gardaí in connection with the attack was released from Manorhamilton Garda Station, Co Leitrim, without charge.

Gardaí said a file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions in relation to the matter.

The rocket attack is the latest in a series of murder bids targeting police and carried out by dissident republicans opposed to the peace process.

Police have confirmed the device used in the Lisnaskea attack contained Semtex explosive and is likely to have come from weaponry once held by the Provisional IRA, which decommissioned its arsenal in 2005.

The PSNI's Chief Inspector Barton asked for anyone who was in in Lisnaskea between 10pm and 11.15pm last Saturday and who saw the car used by the gang to come forward.

He also asked anyone who witnessed the attack or saw the vehicles being set alight at Knocks Road or saw people on foot in the area to contact detectives.

Mr Barton said the three officers targeted in the attack were involved in community-based police work combating anti-social behaviour.

Two of the officers were on Main Street, while the third was in a police vehicle nearby, when a person stepped from a white Ford Escort and pointed an improvised grenade launcher at the police.

The officers dived for cover as the device was triggered, but it failed to detonate and was later recovered by investigators.

The officers escaped with minor injuries and suffering from shock.

Mr Barton condemned the murder bid as a crude and reckless attack on the entire community.