An explosive device placed in a car that detonated outside a police station in Dunmurry, on the outskirts of Belfast, was deliberately designed to kill officers, according to the chairman of the Northern Ireland Policing Board.
Incident Details
Forensic teams were examining the burnt-out vehicle on Sunday morning in a side street adjacent to the PSNI station in the Kingsway area of Dunmurry. Residents in nearby homes have been evacuated, and a cordon remains in place to ensure public safety.
Brendan Mullan, chairman of the Policing Board, condemned the attack, stating that the device was intended to kill police officers and cause maximum harm in a residential area. He noted that those responsible showed a callous disregard for local residents who could have been caught up in the explosion. Mullan described it as a miracle that no one was seriously injured and thanked the officers, the Ammunition Technical Officer (ATO), and emergency services for their swift response.
Mullan highlighted that this is the second incident at a police station in recent weeks, calling it depressing. He emphasized that the people of Northern Ireland have overwhelmingly endorsed the Good Friday Agreement and that such acts of violence have no place in a peaceful society. He concluded by expressing solidarity with the PSNI and condemning those responsible.
Political Reactions
First Minister Michelle O’Neill stated that the perpetrators speak for no one and have no vision or support. She reaffirmed the commitment to peace and progress, asserting that no one will deny future generations a peaceful future.
DUP leader Gavin Robinson described the reports as deeply concerning and called for those responsible to face the full force of the law. He emphasized that police officers and the public should not have to endure such danger and urged that the perpetrators be identified and brought to justice.
Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn labeled the attack a cowardly attempt to cause injury and destruction. He noted that targeting a police station in a residential area shows total disregard for local lives and the officers who keep communities safe. Benn reiterated the government's resolute commitment to peace, stating that such actions only strengthen collective determination.
UUP leader and former police officer Jon Burrows described the explosion as a display of cowardly criminality, almost certainly committed by dissident republicans. He called them desperate, depraved, and morally bankrupt gangsters seeking to drag Northern Ireland back to darker days, but asserted that they will fail.
Police Statement
The Police Service of Northern Ireland issued a statement confirming that officers are at the scene of a security alert in the Kingsway area of Dunmurry. The public is asked to avoid the area, with cordons in place and an evacuation operation underway. Further updates will be provided.
Previous Incident
Last month, a similar attempted attack on another PSNI station in Northern Ireland involved a delivery driver being forced at gunpoint to transport a crude but viable explosive device to Lurgan police station. That device did not explode. Both incidents are believed to be linked to dissident republicans.
