Woodburn Police Pipe Bomb Condemned

A local political reprehensive has slammed those behind an attempted bomb attack at a police station over the past weekend.

Sinn Féin MLA for West Belfast Sue Ramsey has stated that those behind a pipe bomb attack on Woodburn PSNI station continue to endanger the local community.

"Those behind a pipe bomb attack on Woodburn PSNI station clearly have no interest in respecting what the republican community of west Belfast want.

"This attack was wrong and endangered people living nearby. It only takes one of these devices to be mis-thrown along the strip of waste ground behind the station and a child to find it. I am quite sure that those responsible wouldn’t go and retrieve it," she said.

"Regardless of where it landed though it was a wreckless and futile act."

The unexploded pipe bomb was found in the grounds of Woodburn police station, near the back of the station at about 3.30pm on Saturday.

Army bomb experts were tasked and the complex evacuated while the object was examined. They later said it was a "viable pipe bomb".

In July, the remains of an exploded pipe bomb were found in the grounds of the station with dissident republicans suspected of being responsible.

West Belfast Area Commander Chief Inspector Emma Mooney said of the latest attack: "The people responsible have one clear aim - to kill or injure the police officers and staff working there.

"It is sheer luck that this has not been the result of these two attacks."

(BMcC/GK)