By PRESS ASSOCIATION 2019
Dissident republicans attempted to lure police and Army personnel to their deaths in Northern Ireland, a senior officer has said.
Police Service of Northern Ireland Deputy Chief Constable Stephen Martin was speaking after an explosion on Monday morning, which came as a security operation was under way following a report of a suspicious object on Saturday evening.
No one was injured in the blast at Wattle Bridge, close to Newtownbutler, Co Fermanagh.
Mr Martin said it was a “deliberate attempt” to lure police and troops into the area to murder them.
“This attack was indiscriminate and reckless and, whilst there is no doubt in my mind that police responding to this call were the target, the reality is that anyone could have been caught up in the explosion,” he said.
“We are extremely fortunate that the actions of officers who were first on scene meant that there was not serious injury or death.”
The incident on the Irish border has been widely condemned by DUP leader Arlene Foster, Fermanagh MP Michelle Gildernew, Secretary of State Julian Smith and Ireland’s premier Leo Varadkar.
Bomb disposal officers had been in the area at the weekend responding to reports that a device had been left there. Ms Foster tweeted her condemnation of the latest incident, describing the explosion as a “clear attempt to kill”, while Mr Smith said he is “following developments closely”.
Mr Varadkar condemned the “cowardly actions of those responsible”, adding the explosion could have had “devastating consequences”.
Sinn Fein MP Ms Gildernew said: “This morning’s bomb attack in Wattle Bridge was totally wrong.
“Thankfully no one was injured in this incident but we could have been dealing with a situation where people were seriously injured or worse.
“Those responsible for this incident have nothing to offer society and need to end these actions immediately.
“Anyone with information on this should bring it forward to the PSNI.”
This article was published in conjunction with PRESS ASSOCIATION