Attempted car bomb attack condemned

A police station guard in the North had a miraculous escape today after a car bomb partially exploded as he drove to work through a busy residential area.

The suspected dissident republican murder bid in Cookstown, Co Tyrone is the third failed booby trap attack against security force personnel in the North in less than a week.

It is understood the detonator went off as the civilian police worker drove up a hill on the town’s Sweep Road at around 8am, but the rest of the device failed to explode and fell off his red Ford Mondeo.

The terrorists’ intended target was a former policeman aged in his late 50s who now works in the town’s police station as a guard.

Local police commander Chief Superintendent Michael Skuce said it was unbelievable the man had walked away unscathed.

“This man got up this morning to go to his normal day’s work at Cookstown police station unaware that some callous individuals had placed a viable explosive device underneath his car,” he said.

“This device was designed for one purpose – to kill and injure. Those who planted it showed absolutely no regard for anyone. This is a densely populated and busy area.

“We are fortunate that we are not dealing with a multiple murder here today.

“The people of Cookstown do not want this. I know that the community stand with us and that we have their support.”

The officers appealed for anyone with information to come forward.

Around 100 residents, a local creche and a number of businesses were evacuated as Army bomb disposal experts made the area safe.

Last week, viable devices planted under the cars of an Army major and a policewoman in separate incidents in Co Down failed to explode.

In another attack last Tuesday, a 200lb bomb left in a hijacked taxi detonated outside a police station in Derry, causing substantial damage but no injuries.

Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson said the attackers were trying to take people back to the past and once again bring death and destruction back on to the streets.

“Thankfully they have failed once again but their evil intent must be condemned in the strongest possible terms,” he said.

“As an administration that enjoys the support of all sections of the community, we will remain steadfast in our determination not to be deterred or deviate from our course and I would appeal to anyone who can assist the police in their effort to bring those responsible to justice to do so.”

Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness described it as a senseless and cowardly attack.

“This incident, like other recent attacks in Derry, Bangor and Kilkeel, do nothing to further any cause and are not just an attack on the individuals concerned but on a society that has made it clear that the road forward is one which has no place for violence in any form,” he said.

“There is no support for the action of these people and the complete lack of any sort of mandate for mindless attacks, such as those carried out in recent days, is in stark contrast to the overwhelming public support that exists for the institutions which the First Minister and myself lead.”

SDLP Assembly member Patsy McGlone was at the scene of the attack as the Army carried out examinations.

“Campaigns of violence and intimidation had no justification in the past and have no justification now,” he said.

“We cannot allow another generation of victims to be created by those with no regard for the future of this country or its people.

“The thoughts and prayers of the entire Cookstown community are with the victims of this outrage.

“If putting people out of their homes, if disrupting businesses, if putting young children out of a creche is liberating Ireland, then it’s a liberation we can do without.”

The acting chairman of the Northern Ireland Policing Board, Brian Rea, also condemned the attack.

“Yet again, people have attempted to take other people’s lives by recklessly setting a bomb under the car of a police employee,” he said.

“Not only could this have killed or injured the driver of the car but it could have caused serious injury to any passer-by or children at a nearby creche.

“Those responsible have no concern for our community and anyone with information should bring it to the attention of the police.”