Four held over Tyrone bomb attack

Four men have been arrested in Co Tyrone by detectives investigating the booby-trap bomb attack on an off-duty police officer…

Four men have been arrested in Co Tyrone by detectives investigating the booby-trap bomb attack on an off-duty police officer on Monday night.

The four were arrested at different locations in Co Tyrone this morning and taken to the PSNI’s serious crime suite in Antrim police station for questioning over the attempted murder.

PSNI CHIEF constable Sir Hugh Orde said dissident republicans were suspected of planting the device that seriously injured the officer.

The attack on the 27-year-old Catholic officer from Co Tyrone prompted widespread republican, nationalist and unionist criticism.

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The officer, who joined the PSNI 3½ years ago, was on his way to work in Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, when the bomb exploded under his car close to the village of Spamount, near Castlederg, Co Tyrone.

He sustained serious leg wounds although his injuries are said not to be life-threatening. He is the third officer, all of them Catholics, to be targeted by dissident republicans since last November.

Patrick  Logue

Patrick Logue

Patrick Logue is Digital Editor of The Irish Times