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13/08/2008
Republican Dissidents 'Rounded-Up', But Deadly Threat Remains
Around 40 dissident republican activists have been arrested by the PSNI this year to date.
The news emerged as PSNI Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde made clear the dangers that remain from IRA breakaway groups.
Northern Ireland's top policeman has said he believes dissident republican terrorists are out to shoot or otherwise kill his officers in the Province - even if it means taking innocent civilians with them.
In an interview with the Belfast Telegraph, he said that dissident republicans are currently at the "top end of activity" and are trying to recruit "young disenfranchised people" to help swell their relatively meagre ranks.
Underlining their deadly intentions, he said: "All the indications are they want to kill police.
"There is no intelligence at all to suggest they want to currently kill anyone other than police.
"If innocent ordinary people get in the way they would have no issue, they don't care, it's just not what their tactics are. The notion they've got any moral position is non existent."
Sir Hugh's comments follow a spate of attacks on police officers from dissidents within the past year.
In separate incidents last November two police officers were shot and wounded in gun attacks in Dungannon and Londonderry.
Dissidents also admitted responsibility for an attempted bomb attack on a police patrol in Co Fermanagh in June, while in May an off-duty officer was injured in a booby-trap car explosion as he travelled to work in Co Tyrone.
However, Sir Hugh said that police had a "reasonable grip" on the terrorists and had counted a number of recent successes against them.
"They are badly disrupted by our activity, over 40 arrested this year on various operations," he confirmed.
(BMcC)
The news emerged as PSNI Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde made clear the dangers that remain from IRA breakaway groups.
Northern Ireland's top policeman has said he believes dissident republican terrorists are out to shoot or otherwise kill his officers in the Province - even if it means taking innocent civilians with them.
In an interview with the Belfast Telegraph, he said that dissident republicans are currently at the "top end of activity" and are trying to recruit "young disenfranchised people" to help swell their relatively meagre ranks.
Underlining their deadly intentions, he said: "All the indications are they want to kill police.
"There is no intelligence at all to suggest they want to currently kill anyone other than police.
"If innocent ordinary people get in the way they would have no issue, they don't care, it's just not what their tactics are. The notion they've got any moral position is non existent."
Sir Hugh's comments follow a spate of attacks on police officers from dissidents within the past year.
In separate incidents last November two police officers were shot and wounded in gun attacks in Dungannon and Londonderry.
Dissidents also admitted responsibility for an attempted bomb attack on a police patrol in Co Fermanagh in June, while in May an off-duty officer was injured in a booby-trap car explosion as he travelled to work in Co Tyrone.
However, Sir Hugh said that police had a "reasonable grip" on the terrorists and had counted a number of recent successes against them.
"They are badly disrupted by our activity, over 40 arrested this year on various operations," he confirmed.
(BMcC)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:Dry, bright start this morning with best of sunshine in the west. Thickening cloud over Down and Antrim this morning with a few showers, extending westwards this afternoon. Lighter winds. Maximum temperature 16 °C.Tonight:Rather cloudy and mainly dry at first, then showery outbreaks of rain extending westwards to most places during the night, turning heavier towards morning. Light winds. Minimum temperature 8 °C.
