THE 300LB suspected dissident republican bomb left outside the police station in Aughnacloy, Co Tyrone, would “certainly” have cost loss of life had it exploded, according to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).
Some 350 people were evacuated from their homes late on Thursday night after a warning about the car bomb was relayed to the police. British army bomb disposal experts made safe the device inside a white Ford Transit van. The army team carried out a controlled explosion on the van.
A blue Toyota Avensis was found burnt-out across the Border in Co Monaghan on Thursday night and the PSNI was liaising with the Garda to see if it was used in the attempted bomb attack.
PSNI Superintendent Brian Kee accused those responsible of having a “blatant disregard” for life. “We can confirm that this was a viable device containing an estimated 300lb of explosives. I have no doubt that if this device had detonated it would have caused complete devastation and lives would certainly have been lost,” he said.
“The intention of the people responsible for planting this bomb in the middle of the village of Aughnacloy is to murder police officers with no regard for the people who live in this community,” he added. “This is an outrage and should be condemned in the strongest possible terms by every right-thinking person.”
He said it was due to the bravery of the police and co-operation of the community no one was hurt or killed.
DUP Assembly member Lord Morrow said those responsible were beneath contempt and would not succeed “in dragging Northern Ireland backwards”. Appealing for public assistance to the police, he added, “No one wants to return to the days of crowds walking behind the coffins of innocent people murdered by terrorists.”
Sinn Féin MP for the area Michelle Gildernew said whichever of the “small militarist factions” were responsible must seriously reflect on their actions. SDLP MLA Tommy Gallagher accused the attempted bombers of callousness. Ulster Unionist MLA Tom Elliott said it was “deeply saddening for those who are committed to a peaceful future”.
Alliance and the policing board condemned the act. Meanwhile, a British bomb disposal team was called out early yesterday to defuse a pipe bomb thrown at the Brownlow PSNI station in Craigavon, Co Armagh.