12/04/2011
PSNI Reviews Newry Bomb Cordon
The police are to carry out a review into why hundreds of motorists were able to drive past a van that was later found to contain a deadly 500lb bomb in Newry last week.
The underpass on the main Belfast to Dublin Road was closed after police found the suspect vehicle, but according to the PSNI cones were later removed by motorists.
Chief Supt Alasdair Robinson said members of the public "breached" the police cordon.
Mr Robinson went on to explain that police re-established a security cordon when they discovered that cones had been removed, which had allowed motorists to drive past the van containing the bomb.
The Newry and Mourne District Policing Partnership met on Monday night to discuss the incident.
Chairman, David McCauley said it would investigate if the area should have been cordoned off more effectively.
Police described the 500lb bomb as "sophisticated and substantial" and its discovery came less than a week after the murder of PSNI constable Ronan Kerr in Omagh by dissident republican elements determined to wreck the Peace Process.
The Acting NI Policing Board Chairman, Brian Rea, insisted that police had done all they could to make the area safe: "Motorists appeared not to be willing to obey the police direction. The road closure sign and cones were set out but they were removed.
"Police have to be extremely careful when they enter into this type of situation and often they have to leave it some time before it is safe for them to do so."
Mr Robinson added: "You can't blame all of the people who drove past because they came to what they thought was an open road. We checked the cordon and we put police back in to close them down.
"The police were on the ground but as far as we were concerned the cordon was complete."
There were further security alerts when a suspect item was dicovered on the M1 near Lurgan and a similar discovery took place in the Bushford Manor area in Antrim.
See: Drivers Risk Lives In Border Bomb Alert
(JG/GK)
The underpass on the main Belfast to Dublin Road was closed after police found the suspect vehicle, but according to the PSNI cones were later removed by motorists.
Chief Supt Alasdair Robinson said members of the public "breached" the police cordon.
Mr Robinson went on to explain that police re-established a security cordon when they discovered that cones had been removed, which had allowed motorists to drive past the van containing the bomb.
The Newry and Mourne District Policing Partnership met on Monday night to discuss the incident.
Chairman, David McCauley said it would investigate if the area should have been cordoned off more effectively.
Police described the 500lb bomb as "sophisticated and substantial" and its discovery came less than a week after the murder of PSNI constable Ronan Kerr in Omagh by dissident republican elements determined to wreck the Peace Process.
The Acting NI Policing Board Chairman, Brian Rea, insisted that police had done all they could to make the area safe: "Motorists appeared not to be willing to obey the police direction. The road closure sign and cones were set out but they were removed.
"Police have to be extremely careful when they enter into this type of situation and often they have to leave it some time before it is safe for them to do so."
Mr Robinson added: "You can't blame all of the people who drove past because they came to what they thought was an open road. We checked the cordon and we put police back in to close them down.
"The police were on the ground but as far as we were concerned the cordon was complete."
There were further security alerts when a suspect item was dicovered on the M1 near Lurgan and a similar discovery took place in the Bushford Manor area in Antrim.
See: Drivers Risk Lives In Border Bomb Alert
(JG/GK)
Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
23 June 2016
Police Officers Disciplined For Failing To Tell Doctor About Woman's Head Injuries
Two police officers have been disciplined after they failed to let their colleagues and a police doctor know that a woman had sustained a head injury, a Police Ombudsman investigation has concluded. The woman died from bleeding to the brain on 24 February 2014, the day after she suffered the injury.
Police Officers Disciplined For Failing To Tell Doctor About Woman's Head Injuries
Two police officers have been disciplined after they failed to let their colleagues and a police doctor know that a woman had sustained a head injury, a Police Ombudsman investigation has concluded. The woman died from bleeding to the brain on 24 February 2014, the day after she suffered the injury.
21 April 2008
Early Morning Petrol Bomb Attack Racial
A foreign national woman who is eight months pregnant was among four people targeted in a petrol bomb attack at the weekend. Police believe that the incident - in County Tyrone - was racial in its nature.
Early Morning Petrol Bomb Attack Racial
A foreign national woman who is eight months pregnant was among four people targeted in a petrol bomb attack at the weekend. Police believe that the incident - in County Tyrone - was racial in its nature.
18 November 2013
Weekend Bomb Attacks Condemned
A spate of bomb attacks over the weekend has been condemned by the First and deputy First Minister and parties across the political spectrum. A police patrol was attacked with a pipe bomb in County Tyrone on Saturday. A security alert began in the Ballycolman estate, Strabane, at about 20:25, following news that something had been thrown at police.
Weekend Bomb Attacks Condemned
A spate of bomb attacks over the weekend has been condemned by the First and deputy First Minister and parties across the political spectrum. A police patrol was attacked with a pipe bomb in County Tyrone on Saturday. A security alert began in the Ballycolman estate, Strabane, at about 20:25, following news that something had been thrown at police.
11 July 2001
TWO PENSIONERS ESCAPE INJURY IN PETROL BOMB ATTACK
TWO elderly Protestant sisters have escaped injury after a petrol bomb attack on their East Belfast home. The women, aged 73 and 79, escaped injury after a passing police patrol discovered a fire at their home and forced their way into the house in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
TWO PENSIONERS ESCAPE INJURY IN PETROL BOMB ATTACK
TWO elderly Protestant sisters have escaped injury after a petrol bomb attack on their East Belfast home. The women, aged 73 and 79, escaped injury after a passing police patrol discovered a fire at their home and forced their way into the house in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
20 March 2014
Motorists May Have Driven Over Suspect Device
Motorists might have driven over a suspicious device at the junction of Albertbridge Road and Castlereagh Street in east Belfast, according to reports. The suspect package was reported by a passers-by at around 18:15 on Wednesday sparking a security alert. The alert ended at around 23:00 and no homes were evacuated during the incident.
Motorists May Have Driven Over Suspect Device
Motorists might have driven over a suspicious device at the junction of Albertbridge Road and Castlereagh Street in east Belfast, according to reports. The suspect package was reported by a passers-by at around 18:15 on Wednesday sparking a security alert. The alert ended at around 23:00 and no homes were evacuated during the incident.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.