Masked Gunmen Hijack Car and Force Driver to Transport Bomb to Police Station in Lurgan
In a chilling incident that has shaken the community, masked men hijacked a car and forced a delivery driver to transport a "crude but viable" explosive device to a police station in Lurgan, County Armagh, Northern Ireland. The terrifying ordeal occurred on Monday night, prompting a major security alert and the evacuation of approximately 100 homes in the area.
Details of the Hijacking and Bomb Threat
At around 10.30pm on Monday, a fast-food delivery driver was making a delivery in the Kilwilkie estate of Lurgan when he was stopped by two masked individuals. One of the assailants was armed with a pistol, adding to the severity of the situation. The hijackers placed an object, later confirmed to be an improvised explosive device, into the boot of the driver's white Audi A4 car, registration number SB60 LUY.
The driver was then ordered under threat of death to drive the vehicle to Lurgan police station on Church Road, located about a mile away. Upon arrival, the driver bravely escaped from the car and alerted security staff, informing them of the bomb inside. This act of courage likely prevented a potential catastrophe.
Police Response and Community Impact
Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson of the Police Service of Northern Ireland described the incident as an "absolutely terrifying ordeal" for the driver and a "hugely disruptive and distressing event" for the local community. In response, authorities launched a significant policing operation overnight.
Approximately 100 homes in the vicinity were evacuated as a precautionary measure, with displaced residents being accommodated at Lurgan town hall, which was opened as a rest centre. Ammunition technical officers carried out a controlled explosion on the suspicious device to render it safe. Henderson confirmed that the device was a "crude but viable" improvised explosive, which posed a significant risk to the driver, security personnel, and the broader community.
Political Condemnation and Historical Context
Northern Ireland's Justice Minister, Naomi Long, strongly condemned the attack, labelling it as "shameful and dangerous" and emphasising that it put lives at risk while causing disruption and upset. She stated that there is "absolutely no place for this utterly reckless and abhorrent behaviour."
Carla Lockhart, a Democratic Unionist MP representing the constituency, criticised those responsible, accusing them of attempting to maximise disruption and drag Lurgan back to the dark days of the Troubles. She asserted that the community has moved forward and does not support such actions.
John O'Dowd, a Sinn Féin Stormont assembly member, also condemned the incident, offering solidarity to the driver and stating that those behind the attack "represent no one but themselves" and are isolated from the community. He affirmed that progress in Lurgan will not be hindered by such individuals.
The tactic of forcing individuals to transport bombs has historical precedents in Northern Ireland, notably used by the Provisional IRA in 1990. Dissident republicans have since replicated this method, though often with hoax devices. As of now, there has been no immediate claim of responsibility for the Lurgan incident, but suspicion has fallen on dissident republican groups.
Ongoing Investigation and Community Resilience
As of Tuesday morning, some streets in Lurgan remained closed as police continued their investigation into the scene. The incident has highlighted ongoing security challenges in the region, but community leaders have expressed determination to move forward and reject violence.
The bravery of the delivery driver in raising the alarm has been widely commended, and the swift police response helped mitigate potential harm. Authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward as they work to bring those responsible to justice.
