12 June 2001

OFFICERS ATTACKED DURING EXPLOSIVES RECOVERY OP

TWO police officers have been injured after being attacked with blast bombs in County Antrim on Monday, June 11.

The police came under attack by a crowd of youths following a security operation in the Ballyvessey area of Newtownabbey.

Police recovered 189 kilos of home made explosives during the operation and a weapon, believed to be a handgun were found in a derelict flat in the New Mossley estate.

The cache is being linked to the loyalist paramilitary group, the Ulster Volunteer Force.

The youths threw two blast bombs, one of which exploded, and stones at the police, injuring two officers. Their injuries are not thought to be serious.

The violence erupted shortly before 9pm in the estate.

RUC Chief Superintendent Bertie Verner, District Commander for the Newtownabbey area said his officers came under sustained attack from “a sizeable crowd”.

"Initially it was quite an onslaught upon the officers who, having located the explosives, were attempting to secure them and take them out of harm's way," he said.

The explosives that were recovered were put on display on Tuesday at Girdwood Barracks in Clifton Park Avenue, Belfast. (AMcE)