THE PSNI said there was no doubt that a bomb that exploded in south Armagh on Saturday was part of a dissident republican plan to kill police officers.
Police suspect that the bomb, which left a small crater in a road and caused minor damage to a bridge near Newtownhamilton, was a so-called “come-on” device to lure police into a secondary attack.
The bomb exploded under the bridge on the Carrickrovaddy Road between Belleek and Cullyhanna in south Armagh at around 5.30pm on Saturday.
Nobody was injured in the blast which follows a number of dissident republican attacks in south Armagh.
Police were treating the scene with extreme caution yesterday in case of booby-trap bombs in the area or the possibility of an ambush on them by dissident paramilitaries.
PSNI superintendent Pauline Shields said at a press conference in Newry yesterday that the attack was a “blatant and callous attempt” to kill and injure police officers.
“Thankfully no one was injured. At this stage we do not believe this incident poses any further risk to members of the public, but it does pose a significant risk to my officers. That is why we are treating this incident with extreme caution.
“I want to be clear – my assessment of this incident is that this was a ploy to lure officers into the area.”
Supt Shields said she was unable to comment on the size or nature of the bomb, but it was a “significant explosion”.
“The reality is that there are people out there who have a callous disregard for the lives of both local members of the community and my officers.
“They took the decision to plant this device knowing only too well the potential deadly consequences. They are damaging and disrupting local communities.”
Some hours after the blast five men were arrested in Co Louth in connection with suspected dissident republican activity.
Asked was there any connection between the arrests and the explosion, Supt Shields said: “I can’t speculate or comment on an investigation led by the Garda. What I will say is that we will carry out a thorough investigation and follow every available line of inquiry.”
Sinn Féin junior minister Gerry Kelly, condemning the attack, said the dissidents had very little support and were intent on “dragging” society back to the past,
Ulster Unionist deputy leader Danny Kennedy said the attack was designed to raise tensions on the eve of the July 12th parades.
“The people of Northern Ireland have rejected those who would have us return to the dark days of our past.”
SDLP Assembly member Dominic Bradley said local people were opposed to such attacks.
“They have had enough of it for over 30 years; what they want is a peaceful, safe, and secure environment for their children – not the possibility of a family member or friend suffering death or destruction as a result of this type of activity.”
Alliance MLA Kieran McCarthy said those responsible were intent on “nothing but death and destruction”.
