Simon Coveney evacuated from Belfast event after van hijacked at gunpoint

Simon Coveney was informed of the threat as he spoke at the event. Picture: John and Pat Hume Foundation

Simon Coveney was rushed from an event in Belfast this morning after a vehicle was hijacked at gunpoint, a device put into it, and the driver forced to bring it to the event while the Foreign Affairs Minister was speaking.

Mr Coveney had been addressing a John and Pat Hume Foundation event at the Houben Centre in North Belfast.

Video of the livestreamed event shows Mr Coveney being approached by a staff member during his speech before he abruptly ends his talk and leaves the room.

It is understood a van had been hijacked at gunpoint on the Shankill Road and the driver was forced to drive to a nearby Catholic church where it is understood a wedding was ongoing. Reports suggest a cannister had been placed on the van.

It is believed the van driver was made to drive the van to premises and park in the car park of the grounds.

The driver was said to be visible shaken and apologising to people.

Police set up a 400m exclusion zone around the site.

Mr Coveney is understood to have been taken away from the area.

A spokesman for him said: "The minister and team are safe, have been taken to a secure location and the PSNI are doing their work."

In a tweet, Mr Coveney said he was "saddened and frustrated" at what had occurred. 

"In Belfast with @Humefoundation to honour John & Pat’s legacy of peace for all communities," he wrote. "Saddened & frustrated that someone has been attacked & victimised in this way and my thoughts are with him & his family. My thanks to @PoliceServiceNI"

In Belfast with @Humefoundation to honour John & Pat’s legacy of peace for all communities. Saddened & frustrated that someone has been attacked & victimised in this way and my thoughts are with him & his family. My thanks to ⁦@PoliceServiceNI⁩ https://t.co/bs9LvTKBHW

— Simon Coveney (@simoncoveney) March 25, 2022

Other elected officials were also at the event including SDLP members and other Norther Ireland MLAs.

One local woman said the community "would be disgusted by what has happened". 

"I am angry about this. It’s sad when we are supposed to be moving on."

Journalist Amanda Ferguson told Sky News that there is speculation that because the security threat in the North was reduced earlier this week that perhaps those behind the attack are putting out a reminder that they haven't gone away.

The terrorism threat level in the region was lowered from severe to substantial for the first time in 12 years, it was announced on Tuesday. The decision to change the threat level is taken by MI5, independent of the British Government.

A van seen at the scene

Local priest Fr Gary Donegan spoke at the event.

He told BBC Radio Ulster that Mr Coveney was about five minutes into the speech when it was interrupted.

"I saw the close protection team, beckoning towards me, and I was wondering what are they asking me for? They turned around and said to me that someone had been hijacked at gunpoint and had driven a van with an alleged device into the ground and we need to get the minister out of there and get the place evacuated. So immediately, we had to get the minister away."

Ms Ferguson who is attending the event tweeted: "Among those at todays Hume Foundation event were SDLP members and elected reps, UUP MLA Mike Nesbitt and John Kyle, Professor Colin Harvey. and Shankill Women’s Centre’s Eileen Weir. People are being further moved away from the building."

Tim Attwood, from the John and Pat Hume Foundation, told the PA news agency that the security alert is a reminder "to everyone that there is no role in our society for violence".

He added: "A suspect device will not stop the work of the John and Pat Hume Foundation."

Sinn Fein MP John Finucane tweeted: "The attack on an event involving Minister Simon Coveney at North Belfast's Houben Centre today is disgraceful.

"Those behind the van hijacking which was left on church grounds have no place in society.

"While they try to bring back the past, we will keep working for the future."

In a statement, a PSNI spokesperson said: "Police are currently in attendance of a security alert at the Crumlin Road area of north Belfast.

"Motorists are advised to avoid the area and seek alternative main routes for their journey. There are no further details at this stage."