The British government said last night loyalist paramilitaries were believed to have been responsible for 13 murders in the North during the last six months and that republican paramilitaries were responsible for two murders. The figures do not include the two murders in Belfast last week.
In a House of Commons written reply, the Northern Ireland Minister, Mr Adam Ingram, said the figures related to the six-month period between July 20th 1997 and January 25th 1998. During that time there were 93 shooting incidents, and 51 of them were attributed to loyalists, while republicans were believed to have carried out 21 attacks. Those responsible for the other 21 incidents were unknown, Mr Ingram said.
Republican paramilitaries terrorists were also believed to have been involved in 20 bombing incidents. Intelligence reports pointed to another six bomb attacks by loyalists.