A police officer injured in what the PSNI is treating as a dissident car bomb attack in Co Antrim remains in a “critical but stable” condition in hospital tonight.
The officer was driving his blue Alfa Romeo car along Milltown Road in Randalstown at about 6.30am yesterday when the device exploded under the driver’s seat, causing him serious injuries.
He was named unofficially as Peadar Heffron (33). He is a Catholic and captain of the PSNI Gaelic football team. He is well known inside the police and in his local community as an Irish language enthusiast.
He recently got married. He was thought to be driving to Belfast’s Woodbourne station in west Belfast.
Police say he was a highly regarded officer with some 10 years’ experience. Det Chief Supt Derek Williamson branded the attackers “faceless cowardly thugs”.
“They skulked under the cover of darkness to try to kill or injure this officer,” he said. “It’s too early to know exactly who was responsible but it’s likely to have been dissident republicans.”
Political reaction was swift. Taoiseach Brian Cowen said: “This criminal action by a tiny minority is an attack on all of the people of this country. They will not succeed in deflecting us from the path of peace on this island.”
First Minister Peter Robinson said the car bombing was a “cowardly evil act against a man committed to defending the free society we all enjoy”.
“I have said in the past that those who perpetrate such attacks will not succeed in returning Northern Ireland to the dark days of the past. I remain steadfastly committed to upholding that promise,” he added.
Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said: “The man injured today in this attack contributes positively to the community. He is an active member of the GAA and an Irish speaker.
“He serves the community as a member of the PSNI. The people who carried out this attack make no contribution.”
Sinn Féin Assembly member Mitchel McLaughlin said the attack was timed to counter Sinn Féin efforts to break the deadlock with the DUP over the devolution of justice and policing powers to Stormont.
“These issues and these difficulties in the interests of all the people of Ireland have to be resolved, whether with Peter Robinson or some other leader of that party. Peter Robinson, as leader, has a responsibility and he is not meeting it at this time.”
Policing board chairman Barry Gilligan said: “I understand that the officer has been taken to hospital and our thoughts are first and foremost with him and his family.”
There was also strong condemnation from the Ulster Unionists, the SDLP, Progressive Unionist and Alliance parties.
MP William McCrea of the DUP said he was greatly concerned by what he called “a lack of intelligence” available to security forces.