Photosales
niJobfinder
niCarfinder
Home Delivery
Propertynews
Gunmen 'shot at people on the ground'
Monday, 9 March 2009
More pictures
Northern Ireland is confronting the prospect of further lethal dissident republic violence after two British soldiers were shot dead in an ambush outside an Army base near Belfast.
The two soldiers, the first to die violently in Northern Ireland for more than a decade, were in desert fatigues because they were due to fly to Afghanistan the following morning.
They had come to the gates of their Masserene base in Co Antrim to collect pizza when they were ambushed by terrorists firing automatic rifles.
Four other people were wounded in the attack including a Polish national who is critically ill in hospital. The killers even stood over their victims and fired a second volley.
Last night, a Dublin-based newspaper had a call supposedly from the Real IRA claiming responsibility for the attack, using a recognised codename.
Gordon Brown declared that "no murderer will be able to derail the peace process" but there was anxiety that the killings might generate either political recriminations or retaliation from extreme loyalists. The Prime Minister said: "The whole country is shocked and outraged at the evil and cowardly attacks on soldiers serving their country. We will do everything in our power to make sure that Northern Ireland is safe and secure, and I assure you we will bring these murderers to justice."
Martin McGuinness, of Sinn Fein, said: "I was a member of the IRA, but that war is over now. The people responsible for last night's incident are clearly signalling that they want to resume or restart that war. Well, I deny their right to do that."
Security sources said the planning and execution of the attack showed an increasing sophistication among the dissidents, as well as growing evidence of collusion between republican groups. Monitoring of communications presented a "confusing and complex" picture in which members of the two main groups, Real and Continuity IRA, appeared to be speaking to each other while the groups themselves were split into as many as six sub-groups.
There was also evidence that the dissidents have been acquiring weaponry including semi-automatic rifles, machine-pistols and, mechanisms for detonating pressure-plate explosive devices of the type British forces face in Afghanistan and Iraq. But security sources deny reports that a 300lb car bomb found at Castlewellan, Co Down, had, as it was reported at the time, an advanced anti-handling device.
Though it seems there were no prior indications of the Saturday night attack, security was already unusually high because of an increased threat from a variety of small-scale but lethal republican dissidents opposed to the peace process. This month, the threat level was upgraded from "substantial" to "severe", and sources revealed that MI5 spends 15 per cent of its resources on countering terrorism in Northern Ireland. Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde recently requested support from the Army's Special Reconnaissance Regiment to help with surveillance.
The weekend victims had gone to meet a mobile Domino's Pizza takeaway which had arrived with food for the soldiers. The gunmen obviously knew of the regular routine on Saturday nights when as many as 20 orders of pizza were delivered. They waited until the troops emerged through the gates to pick up the food. The ambushers then stepped forward from the shadows and sprayed bullets with sustained bursts from semi-automatic weapons, hitting four soldiers and two Domino employees.
A senior police officer said: "The gunmen, having fired an initial volley of shots, moved forward when people were on the ground and fired additional shots at those people on the ground, so it was a very, very callous and very ruthless attack."
Maverick republican splinter groups have for some time publicly proclaimed their ambition to kill members of the security forces as part of a strategy to restart the Troubles and return to large-scale conflict. They have injured several police personnel in gun and bomb attacks but security force members have escaped with their lives, sometimes by luck.
Northern Ireland's First Minister Peter Robinson said there must not be retaliation for the attack, declaring: "Can I urge all of those who may be angry within the Unionist community; this is a matter to be left entirely with the police and the authorities to deal with."
Frankie Gallagher, a member of a political group which has links with the paramilitary Ulster Defence Association, echoed this, saying: "This cowardly attack has created considerable anger in unionist communities but there must be no retaliatory actions. This situation must be dealt with entirely by the police."
Mr Robinson and Mr McGuinness have delayed a planned visit to the US which is due to end with meeting President Barack Obama at the White House.
Sir Hugh Orde added: "This was an act by an increasingly desperate small group of increasingly desperate people who are determined to drag 99 per cent of this community back to where they don't want to go."
- Text Size
Also in this section
- Carson: it's the way he told 'em
- Tributes paid to funnyman Carson
- Mother and daughter given Asbos
- Bank donates artworks to taxpayers
- Man accused of murdering vicar
Comments
143 Comments
why are we given these scum any sort of publicity they don't deserve it they depend on any sort of publicity to survive,without it they will only shrivel up and disappear.
god bless the soldiers and the police officer that have been taken before their time
Posted by eddie | 13.03.09, 10:45 GMT
It is time to bring back the rope, to discourage acts like this in the future. Then there will be some justice for the victims , both living and the deceased.
Posted by David | 11.03.09, 01:11 GMT
sophie dont be ridiculous, maybe you should see the reaction to the policeman being shot, who in your view is irish. wise up- get back in the real world.
Posted by neill | 10.03.09, 16:15 GMT
I got this email this morning. tell everyone you know and lets show some solidarity against these murderers.
Join a silent protest at the Massereene murders
The Trade Unions stand together with all citizens in solidarity to prevent any derailment of the peace process. The callous attack last Saturday night was an assault on every citizen who supports peace. The Irish Congress of Trade Unions is inviting all workers and their families to express their abhorrence at these murders and the direct threat to the peace process at a number of silent protests at 1.00pm on Wednesday, 11 March 2009 at Belfast City Hall, Guildhall Square, Derry, and Newry Town Hall.
Posted by Michael | 10.03.09, 12:44 GMT
I am from burnley England and I am coming to Belfast for a stag party in a couple of weeks, it would be easy to call it off and cancel, but what message would that send to the people who want to derail the peace process? I want to, and am going to show my personal support by coming to Belfast and putting my tourist money into the belfast economy, catholic or protestant, it doesn't make a difference to me, we are all human, and I know most of the northern Irish people are sick and fed up of this problem, the guy who wrote earlier had it right, outside of northern Ireland, it does not matter what religion you are, it's time someone popped the bubble of the small minded, small world attitude of these cowards, I say cowards because real men stand and fight toe to toe, not shooting someone in a surprise attack, northern Ireland, please keep your nerve, for your future, good luck.
Posted by Michael | 10.03.09, 11:47 GMT
A very interesting read through the comments confirms all the reasons why I no longer live in my home country. For all the doubtless sincere expressions of sympathy and outrage there is a high proportion of comments that seek to justify, contextualise or simply point-score on this tragedy. "what about the oppression!" "Gerry knows who did it" "the six counties!" "Ulster!" etc.
You're all fooling no-one, Stormont executive or not. Nothing was ever done to address the root causes of the bigotry - and nothing ever will because you all revel in it too much.
The rest of the British Isles moved on from this in 1994 - when it stopped affecting them and scarcely anyone in Scotland, England, Wales, Ireland or anywhere cares one jot, even now.
People of the six counties; please try and join the 20th century sometime soon - and if you get comfortable with modernity, try the 21st....
Posted by ADC | 10.03.09, 11:43 GMT
In respect of the soldier who shielded the delivery man I hope that moves are underway by now to have the brave soldier awarded a medal for bravery. The only one suitable for such an act of unselfish bravery in the face of such extreme danger would be the award of the George Cross.
The bravery shown by him is in stark contrast to that of the scumbags who hid in the shadows.
Posted by Colin | 10.03.09, 11:07 GMT
how many people got butchered in Iraq and Afghanistan? the British army likes dishing it out
Posted by Greg | 10.03.09, 07:19 GMT
two young soldiers cut down while paying for pizza. two guys delivering the pizzas to the soldiers wounded. i hope the pizza delivery guys recover from their wounds. may god bless the souls of the young soldiers and i hope that the fools who pulled those triggers will have their souls dammed for all eternity. if tom barry could see this he would roll over in his grave. you fools you god damn bloody fools.
Posted by Randy | 10.03.09, 03:51 GMT
Shame on You Gerry Adams and Martin Maginnis. Our thoughts and Prayers are with all the Families
Posted by expat | 09.03.09, 22:41 GMT
This terrable act of murder must be condemed by everyone. This terrable act was carried out by fanatics who do not have any support in the nationalist community or any right minded person. I can only send my deepest synpathy to their families and hope tht these renagades will be caught sooner rather than later.
A very sad falls road man.
Posted by joe | 09.03.09, 21:07 GMT
Hollow words from Gordon Brown considering the success in bringing people to justice for the Omagh bombings. They must be quaking in their boots!
Posted by kevin | 09.03.09, 21:06 GMT
Shame on the RIRA yet again for these latest despcicable murders. It is time that the so called Real-IRA grew up and got real. Terrorism is immature bullying because the IRA cannot win at the ballot box. The organisers of this attrocity bring deep shame on the whole island of Ireland and are totally disowned by all real Pats and ex-Pats. They are a total embarrasment to us as Europeans.
Posted by Ex-pat | 09.03.09, 21:03 GMT
Wow...there really are some freaking idiots out there. The people who did this, it's a shame that they probably wont get more than a few years.
Posted by CoreyH | 09.03.09, 20:48 GMT
Derry Lad - We can all look back in time and find something that the "other side" did wrong , but it does not justify anyone else's actions. No-one forces another human being to pick up a gun and take another life.
Can the shooting of two innocent people delivering pizzas be justified? I doubt it!
I just hope that they are caught, put through the courts and locked up for the rest of their lives.
God bless the families of the murdered, and the injured.
Posted by Rab | 09.03.09, 20:46 GMT
what about SF finding out who these are and hand them over afterall these cowards were part of the ira or do they think the people are stupid, the ira were a close knit body but the top men of each unit knew thier foot soldiers surely its not too hard to work and find out who they are
Posted by William | 09.03.09, 20:38 GMT
What hypocrisy from nationalists and republicans. These murderers are the brothers, cousins, and sons of SF/IRA members whose kidnap/torture victims are lying in unmarked graves. Whats the difference between these people and those in Stormont who have widespread support.
Posted by brian | 09.03.09, 20:24 GMT
This is an utter shock! I was born in the States, but most of my family still lives near Castlewellan. These criminals need to be brought to justice-and if you could hang them publicly-maybe some kid who is looking for a cause to join might think twice before joining these fringe elements. I will have quite a time convincing my American wife it is safe to bring my 3 year old daughter home this summer.
Posted by Richard | 09.03.09, 19:10 GMT
These may be the same animals that were responsible for the Omagh atrocity. These cowards must be hunted down and caught this time.
Posted by Tony | 09.03.09, 19:07 GMT
Why do they insist on calling these murderers gunmen. They are not men in any sense of the word. . Only cowards. Certainly not heroes for their cause, wont be any fables written about them. Shame on you. Deepest sympathy to the families of the bereaved
Posted by Wendy R | 09.03.09, 19:01 GMT
143 Comments