Police have launched an attempted murder investigation following a hijacking and explosive device attack at Dunmurry police station on Saturday, 25 April.

The incident began shortly after 10.50pm when a delivery driver's vehicle was hijacked in the Twinbrook area of west Belfast. A gas cylinder device was placed in the boot of the car, and the driver was forced to take the vehicle to the police station.

Upon the vehicle being abandoned outside the station, police personnel activated the facility's Attack Alarm. Officers moved to evacuate nearby homes, and a number of residents—including two babies—were being moved to safety when the device detonated. The explosion engulfed the car in flames and scattered debris across the area.

Deputy Chief Constable Bobby Singleton, who condemned the "senseless and reckless" nature of the attack, noted that the lack of injuries was "nothing short of miraculous."

He stated: "Shortly after 10.50pm last night, Saturday 25th April, a delivery driver's car was hijacked in the Twinbrook area of west Belfast and a gas cylinder device was placed in the boot of the vehicle. The man was ordered to drive it to Dunmurry police station.

"The vehicle was abandoned outside the front of the station and police personnel immediately activated the station's Attack Alarm.

"Police officers immediately and courageously ran into danger, placing themselves in harm's way, and evacuated nearby homes to protect the community.

"A number of residents, including two babies, were being taken to safety by officers when the device exploded, engulfing the vehicle in flames and sending debris in all directions.

"What this type of device may have lacked in terms of its sophistication and scale, it more than made up for in its reckless unpredictability.

"Thanks to the swift actions of police, no one has been injured, which is nothing short of miraculous. "Our thoughts today are with all those affected by this cowardly attack, the delivery driver for whom this will have been an extremely traumatic experience, residents who are still unable to return to their homes, our courageous officers and of course their families, who will be grateful their loved ones are safe, but will undoubtedly have been left shaken by the ordeal.

"I want to reassure our community that the Police Service of Northern Ireland will not be deterred or distracted by last night's senseless and reckless attack. We've made great progress as a society and we won't allow those who are intent on dragging us backward to succeed. Instead we'll continue to work with our communities to protect them from harm.

"We have commenced an attempted murder investigation which will be led by our Terrorism Investigation Unit and I would appeal to anyone who may have seen the hijacked vehicle in the Twinbrook area before 11pm to contact us.

"I would like to take this opportunity appeal to anyone with any information on last night's hijacking and bomb attack to make contact with our incident room via our 101 quoting reference number 1682 25/04/26.

"You can also submit a report or information online using the non-emergency reporting form via www.psni.police.uk/report, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org/."

Chief Constable Jon Boutcher also condemned the incident, describing the perpetrators as "mindless idiots" who risked the lives of local residents.

He said: "It is everyone's responsibility to call out such reckless attacks. This was not just an attack aimed at our incredible and hard working police officers and staff. These mindless idiots wantonly risked the lives of local residents including very young children.

"This was an attack against the very society that so many people have strived to achieve. Anyone with any information whatsoever please come forward and help us stop these criminals before they actually hurt someone. There is no place for these people in our society.

"An attack on the PSNI is an attack on everyone."