Photosales
niJobfinder
niCarfinder
Home Delivery
Propertynews
Army braced for imminent attack in Northern Ireland
Bases on high alert over bomb intelligence
Wednesday, 7 October 2009
enlargeThe security forces have been placed on heightened alert after receiving intelligence of a dissident republican plot to attack a Northern Ireland Army base, the Belfast Telegraph has learned.
Security chiefs are concerned that a mortar attack on one of the bases is imminent and have placed all Army personnel on high alert.
It is understood military personnel were briefed about the developments over the weekend. An MoD source told the Belfast Telegraph: “We have all been placed on a high state of alert and have been warned that a mortar attack on any one of the barracks is imminent.”
The MoD declined to discuss the latest threat saying that matters of security in Northern Ireland are a matter for the PSNI. He added: “For obvious reasons we do not discuss operational security.”
The PSNI said: “We do not comment on specific intelligence matters and no inference should be drawn from this.”
The security forces have been on heightened alert since the March murders of two soldiers at Massereene Army barracks in Antrim and PSNI Constable Stephen Carroll in Craigavon.
The dissident republican terror threat remains “severe” and all three dissident terror groups — the Real IRA, Continuity IRA and Oglaigh na hEireann — have intensified their activities in recent weeks.
Oglaigh na hEireann was behind a 600lb bomb attached to a command wire stretching into the Republic which was defused by the Army in south Armagh last month. Security sources said the bomb was one of the most sophisticated to have been assembled by any of the dissident terror groups in recent years.
It is understood they were investigating whether a former veteran Provisional IRA bomb-maker from Belfast had defected to one of the dissident organisations and was helping to improve its bomb-making capability.
The Continuity IRA is believed to be behind two nights of violence on the streets of Lurgan last month when hijacked burning vehicles blocked the Dublin-Belfast rail line. The disturbances followed the jailing of three Continuity IRA men for 15 years in connection with a mortar bomb plot aimed at killing police officers.
In Londonderry the Real IRA left bombs at the homes of relatives of a Catholic PSNI officer. Catholic recruits to the police remain among the prime targets of dissident terror groups. A bomb exploded outside the home of the policeman's parents in the Shantallow area of the city. The dissident terror group then left a second device outside the same PSNI officer's sister's home in the Kylemore Park area of Derry.
No one was injured in the Shantallow blast but a car was damaged. Several families were forced to flee their homes close to the second house targeted in Kylemore Park.
The Real IRA has also been responsible for at least six so-called ‘punishment’ shootings in Derry over the last few months.
In August the Real IRA took over the south Armagh village of Meigh, where armed men wearing masks set up a roadblock to stop traffic. During the incident a PSNI mobile patrol spotted the Real IRA unit but withdrew from the village fearing that their presence would provoke a gun battle.
- Text Size
The republican paramilitaries NEED to realise that NORTHERN IRELAND will NOT be dragged back into another repeat of the troubles, they also need to wake up and see that NO one wants ANY more bloodshed on this land
The British Security Forces are here to PROTECT US ALL! not just to annoy the IRA etc and it seems obsurd to me that if something where to happen to a member or relative of the IRA for example a bomb left on THEIR doorstep then the police SERVICE of Northern Ireland and BRITISH Army bomb disposal would be the first they would call,not their coward buddies with covered up faces,who are exactly that COWARDS!
Posted by Alex | 09.10.09, 17:04 GMT
shane o'neill,
'the Republic won its independence through precisely the same means'
Lets look at that myth a bit more closely Shane. Prior to WW1 British Government policy was independence for Ireland in its entireity. (I sure you are aware of the Irish home rule bills 1912-14). By 1921 that policy had (very reluctantly) changed to partition as the only practical way to control the spiralling sectarian violence that was sweeping Ireland by that time - this hardly constitutes a resounding political or military victory. 'precisely the same means' were later applied by both sides in the Irish civil war, a conflict that killed more people than the supposed war of independance and the modern troubles put together.
The point is that violence of this type has never solved anything in Ireland and never will. Further, individuals who are used to employing these means will use them to resolve all their conflicts without caring too much who they are looking down their gun at.
Posted by SteveW | 09.10.09, 13:12 GMT
I can't believe I am reading this again. What is wrong with you PEOPLE. These are uneducated thugs no matter from which side they come. I am from N. Ireland and live in the USA. I hope all the force in the world is given to get rid of these vermin once and for all. They are pure evil with no souls. People of N. Ireland want PEACE. We are sick and tired of these people who are trying to ruin our country.
Posted by Geraldine | 08.10.09, 04:24 GMT
You all seem to be forgetting that there is a real threat to these brave soldiers lives here if anything does happen at an army base think of this before trying to out do each other about what you want and dont want i tell you what i want the scum who are doing this to be put away for life
Posted by wilma | 08.10.09, 01:06 GMT
I wonder how it feels to be as thick and dense as a breeze block? Ask your nearest dissident republican. Don't know one? Just search amongst the slime and single-celled life forms at the bottom of the nearest pond.
Posted by man dingo | 07.10.09, 19:13 GMT
I left Belfast with my family many years ago because of this type of garbage. I love Ireland either as one or if in 2 units but there are some groups no matter what the situation is will try to cause a vacuum where the criminal element can connect.I don't believe that geniuine religion or polical aspirations are a part of the actions
Posted by Alex Crawford | 07.10.09, 17:24 GMT
Terrorism will not expedite a united Ireland, quite the reverse, it will put it out of sight. Either these 'dissidents' are too stupid to see that or they simply don't care. I suspect it's a combination. There is no point trying to reason with them or condemn them, they are oblivious. They enjoy what they are doing and don't want to stop. A bit like paedophiles, only worse!
All good Irish men and women must support the police, north & south to stop these dirty little criminals.
Posted by BM | 07.10.09, 16:06 GMT
So, it is agreed, nobody wants or supports these criminals, but that's the easy bit!
Does everyone support the security forces, be they Police or Army from either side of the border and I don't just mean lip service!
One side of the community has always backed the Police/Army but the other did not. That is why the IRA were so effective.
If both sides support, and I mean, fully support, the security forces then as 5,000,000 people we will defeat the 50 or so scumbags.
Stephen
Posted by Stephen | 07.10.09, 16:02 GMT
There will always be those who will resist a foreign presence in Ireland.
Posted by Me | 07.10.09, 15:50 GMT
John, the dissidents may be wrong in their violence against British soldiers but the Republic won its independence through precisely the same means.
Posted by shane o'neill | 07.10.09, 15:49 GMT
It's now almost 3:30, and still no attack. Thought it was imminent? Looks like the old scare mongers are at it again for their own gain. Here's one person they sure as hell ain't fooling. Boo! Oh, sorry. I didn't mean to scare you...
Posted by billy boy | 07.10.09, 15:31 GMT
Nobody in The Republic agrees with these thugs. They don't represent anyone. What they are doing is so wrong. WHat they did the last time was evil. They shot young men dead. We all thought we saw the last of this carry on. I'm a proud Irishman and want to see an united Ireland. If they want a united Ireland they are going about it the wrong way. Ireland will only be united when a majority of people express this wish through the ballot box. Their actions keep the British army here in Ireland longer than anyone wants. We on this Island have so many economic an social issues to deal with. We don't want acts of violence added to these problems. We all need to work together to stop this madness. Anyone that support these thugs must remember that they are not patriots they are murders.
Posted by John | 07.10.09, 13:59 GMT
To say that people have been briefed is nonsence. People on the gates know nothing about it
Posted by a smith | 07.10.09, 13:44 GMT
These guys are cetainly no longer political. Instead they are attempting to disrupt the Good Friday agreement, and agreement that was voted in by the public of Northern Ireland over 10 years ago. These people are not fighting the police and the army, they are fighting democracy, plain and simple. They are nothing but gangs and thugs and should not be treated as anything political no matter what they claim their agenda to be.
Posted by K Martin | 07.10.09, 13:42 GMT
The chaos around Newry was unbelievable this morning. Complete gridlock. I can't believe we have to live like this.
Posted by No Allegiance | 07.10.09, 13:13 GMT
These people will pull your country down both socially and econically they only care about therer own agenda no one elses albeit from which side of the community you are from
Posted by richard mahaffy | 07.10.09, 13:12 GMT
to phl, dont also forget that the republic is a part of the E.U so also obliged to do something about the dissidents, classified by laws all around the world as terrorists. after all the majority of their backers reside in the Republic. possibly paying tax but thats unlikely since most of them are criminals.
it isnt a one sided thing here, dont let your emotions get above you. if the UK acts but Ireland doesnt, then who looks bad? thats right, Ireland.
Posted by Rob | 07.10.09, 13:07 GMT
Ulster is one of 4 provinces of Ireland of which there are 9 counties. What you are taslking about is Northern Ireland, not Ulster.
Posted by jd | 07.10.09, 12:38 GMT
The people of this country, Irish and British want nothing to do with these criminals. We have better things to do with our lives. Go away, you are not wanted, not welcome and not supported by anyone.
Posted by Belfast Citizen | 07.10.09, 11:56 GMT
Ulster better comply with P.M. Gordon Brown views. All colors of Ulster must be treated correctly by the law. No one group to force their views on another group like the propagada parades. Ulster better get it that is a part of the U.K. , a member state of the E.U. and it is 2009. The clock is still ticking Ulster.
Posted by phl | 07.10.09, 04:07 GMT