Republican paramilitaries closed off three roads in south Armagh to mount a mortar bomb attack on a British army observation post, it emerged last night.
"Road Closed" signs and traffic cones were used to divert traffic from the scene of Wednesday night's attack at Glassdrumman, near Crossmaglen, said an RUC spokesman.
The device, a mortar bomb containing home-made explosives, landed a short distance from the observation post but did not go off and no soldiers were hurt. Those involved in the attack closed off the Glassdrumman, Lurgan and Leeter Roads and then drove a grey Transit van through a fence to launch the mortar.
The vehicle had been fitted with a single improvised mortar tube and the roof cut to permit the device to be fired through it. The back doors were blown open by the force of the blast, said an RUC spokesman.