A car exploded outside a police station on the outskirts of Belfast, with authorities suspecting the involvement of the New IRA. The incident occurred after the vehicle was hijacked and a gas cylinder device was placed in its boot.
Details of the Incident
Deputy Chief Constable Bobby Singleton of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) reported that the car was hijacked shortly after 10:50 PM on Saturday in the Twinbrook area of west Belfast. The male delivery driver was forced to drive the vehicle to Dunmurry Police Station on the Kingsway and abandon it outside, triggering the station's attack alarm.
The explosion took place while local residents, including two babies, were being evacuated by police. No injuries occurred, which Mr. Singleton described as "nothing short of miraculous." He commended the officers for their bravery, stating they "immediately and courageously ran into danger, placing themselves in harm's way, and evacuated nearby homes to protect the community."
Link to Previous Attack
When asked about similarities to a March incident at Lurgan Police Station, where a delivery vehicle was also hijacked and a viable explosive placed inside, Mr. Singleton noted: "It is now the second attack of this nature in just a month. There are very many similarities between the two incidents, and as a consequence of that, our early working hypothesis is that this may well be the work of the New IRA who claimed responsibility for the attack in Lurgan."
The device, while lacking sophistication, was described as "reckless unpredictability" due to its potential to cause widespread harm. The investigation continues as police work to identify those responsible.
