Soldiers' killers must be brought to justice, say parties

Political leaders were united today in demanding the capture of the Real IRA gunmen who shot dead two British soldiers outside an army barracks.

Sinn Féin joined Ulster unionists in calling for the culprits’ arrest after Saturday’s shooting, which happened while pizzas were delivered to the servicemen at Massereene Barracks in Antrim.

Two other servicemen and two pizza deliverymen – one named as 19-year-old local Anthony Watson and the other a 32-year-old Pole – were also seriously injured in the attack which sent shockwaves through the province’s peace process.

The dead soldiers from 38 Engineer Regiment were wearing desert fatigues and taking delivery of pizzas before leaving for Afghanistan. They will be named today.

At one stage the killers stood over their victims and fired a second volley. Security chiefs believe the gunmen were prepared to murder all six in front of the main gates of the barracks.

The Real IRA, which last night claimed responsibility and branded the pizza deliverymen as British “collaborators”, is the same organisation that killed 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins, in the bombing of Omagh, Co Tyrone, in August 1998.

All sides in Belfast denounced the shooting, and even though Sinn Féin’s condemnation stopped short of expressing sympathy for the soldiers and their families, Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, a former IRA leader in Derry, demanded the dissidents call off their campaign.

He said: “I was a member of the IRA, but that war is over now. The people responsible for last night’s incident are clearly signalling that they want to resume or re-start that war. Well, I deny their right to do that.”

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams added that the perpetrators had no support and he urged party members to help the police investigation.

The MP said: “(The) attack was an attack on the peace process. It was wrong and counter-productive.

“Sinn Féin has a responsibility to be consistent. The logic of this is that we support the police in the apprehension of those involved in last night’s attack.”

The Real IRA “South Antrim unit” claimed responsibility in a phone call to the Sunday Tribune.

In a statement, the paper said: “The caller said he made no apologies for targeting British soldiers while they continued to occupy Ireland and also said he made no apologies for targeting the pizza delivery men who, he said, were collaborating with the British by servicing them.”

Chief Constable Hugh Orde, who had earlier called in undercover soldiers to carry out surveillance operations in a bid to thwart a heightening threat against his officers, ruled out putting troops back on the streets.

He said: “This was an act by a small group of increasingly desperate people who are determined to drag 99% of this community back to where they don’t want to go.”

Taoiseach Brian Cowen and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown insisted the killings would not disrupt the peace process.

Brown sent his condolences, saying: “I can assure you that we will bring these people to justice.”

However the North's First Minister Peter Robinson and Mr McGuinness have delayed a planned visit to the United States which was due to end next Tuesday with a St Patrick’s Day meeting with President Barack Obama at the White House.

DUP leader Mr Robinson said there must not be any retaliation for the attack .

“Can I urge all of those who may be angry within the unionist community – this is a matter to be left entirely with the police and the authorities to deal with. They are capable of dealing with it and they shall deal with it and we must give them our full support,” he said.

The dead soldiers were due to fly out of RAF Aldergrove, just a few miles away from their base in the early hours of yesterday.

The region‘s most senior soldier, Brigadier George Norton, said prompt first aid had saved the other victims from being killed.

“Our thoughts across the armed services are with the colleagues and friends of these young soldiers who were killed and injured in an horrific attack.

“Naturally, this has shocked the community and we are all grateful for the sympathies expressed from across Northern Ireland.”

Police are examining a Vauxhall Cavalier they believe may have been used by the gunmen.

The vehicle was abandoned in Ranaghan Lane area of nearby Randalstown late on Saturday.

The last soldier to be killed in the North was in February 1997 – just over a year before the signing of the Good Friday peace agreement – when the IRA shot dead Lance Bombardier Stephen Restorick, 23, in south Armagh.