Everyone in Northern Ireland has a responsibility to “leave no stone unturned” to defeat the threat from dissident republicans, Hilary Benn has said. The Northern Ireland Secretary spoke after a car bomb attack on Dunmurry police station, which has been condemned across the political spectrum.
Irish Minister Pledges Cooperation
Irish Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan has pledged the “absolute co-operation” of gardai to investigate the attack. Detectives investigating the incident have been granted an additional 36 hours by the courts to question a 66-year-old man arrested under the Terrorism Act on Tuesday.
Details of the Attack
On Saturday, a male delivery driver was hijacked in the Twinbrook area of west Belfast. A device was placed inside his vehicle, and he was ordered to drive to the police station. The car exploded outside the station as people were being evacuated. The New IRA claimed responsibility in a statement to the Irish News.
Mr Benn said the dissident attack was discussed during a meeting of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference on Thursday. He emphasised the need for community support: “If there is anyone that has any information whatsoever that can assist the police, please contact the PSNI. This is a responsibility on the whole of the community of Northern Ireland to leave no stone unturned to defeat this threat.”
Similar Incident in Lurgan
The Dunmurry incident followed a similar dissident attack on Lurgan police station weeks earlier, where a device failed to detonate. Mr Benn stated: “Both of these targeted the lives of police officers and members of the public and they put their lives at risk. We are resolute in our commitment to find those responsible.”
Irish Foreign Minister Helen McEntee said the meeting was an “important and timely opportunity to exchange information on security operations.” She added: “Those behind the attacks represent nobody and offer nothing except violence, criminality and fear.”
Mr O’Callaghan concluded: “Mindless acts of violence such as that must be chased down and the people responsible apprehended and brought to justice. There is a very strong relationship between the gardai and the PSNI and I want to see that relationship continue.”
