The New IRA has announced its intention to target the residences of police officers in Northern Ireland following a recent car bomb incident. The dissident republican group has also taken credit for the car bomb explosion outside a police station in Dunmurry, near Belfast, over the weekend.
In a communication from the New IRA leadership to the Irish News, the group warned that individuals providing information to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) would face severe consequences. The explosion in Dunmurry was reportedly planned to target officers leaving the premises but fortunately resulted in no injuries, despite causing significant property damage and necessitating the evacuation of local families.
A delivery driver was coerced by the group to transport a bomb containing Semtex explosives, an electrical detonator, and a timing device. In response, the PSNI has initiated a visible policing operation to counter the threat posed by dissident republicans.
Assistant Chief Constable Davy Beck emphasized the heightened policing efforts across Northern Ireland to address the ongoing threat from dissident groups, especially in the aftermath of the Dunmurry attack. Beck stressed the importance of community cooperation in ensuring the safety of both residents and law enforcement personnel.
The operation will involve increased vehicle checkpoints and officer patrols, which may cause some inconvenience to the public, but community support is vital for maintaining safety. Political figures, including First Minister Michelle O’Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly, denounced the attack and highlighted the need for heightened security measures in the region.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Secretary of State Hilary Benn also condemned the violence, attributing it to a small group acting independently. Police Chief Constable Jon Boutcher labeled the perpetrators as “mindless thugs,” emphasizing that such actions pose a threat to the entire community. This incident follows a recent attempted car bomb attack on Lurgan police station.
