Photosales
niJobfinder
niCarfinder
Home Delivery
Propertynews
Hoax bomb alerts bring Belfast to standstill
Tuesday, 31 March 2009
Alan Lewis
A schoolboy darts past a blazing lorry in the Ardoyne area of Belfast in scenes Northern Ireland thought it had finally consigned to the history books.
More pictures
Dissident republicans are being blamed for a series of security alerts which brought parts of Northern Ireland to a standstill yesterday.
Around a dozen major roads in and out of Belfast were sealed off after hijacked vehicles were set alight and abandoned.
Rush hour traffic was badly disrupted by the incidents, with many motorists stuck for hours as they tried to get home from work.
The M1 motorway at Lurgan was closed in both directions after a suspicious vehicle was abandoned in the area.
Many of the security alerts were declared close to police stations, including North Queen Street, Tennent Street and Oldpark in the north of Belfast, as well as Woodburn station on the Stewartstown Road and and Dunmurry station on the Lisburn Road in south Belfast.
Army bomb experts were last night called to deal with a suspicious vehicle at Oldpark Road.
An alert close to the main entrance of Stormont led to the Upper Newtownards Road being closed in both directions for several hours. On the Andersonstown Road an abandoned delivery vehicle caused traffic jams.
A burnt out van on the Upper Crumlin Road also saw the area around Holy Cross church being cordoned off. And a blazing lorry closed the Upper Springfield Road for some time.
One irate motorist said he had found all of his routes home sealed off after leaving work.
“As soon as I came out of the car park it was choc-a-block,” he said. “It was just chaotic, I could hear reports coming in from all the other areas. A lot of motorists were seething.”
Both citybound and countrybound lanes of the M1 were closed near Lurgan after a hijacked van was abandoned in the area.
There were also reports of cars being hijacked in the Kilwilkie estate and the Bell’s Road crossing and Antrim Road in Lurgan.
Police were also called out to investigate an incident in which an object was placed in a vehicle by masked men in Norfolk Grove in Belfast. The driver was ordered to take it to the Saintfield Road roundabout in Lisburn, where it was later discovered to be a hoax.
Delays were also caused to motorists after traffic lights from as far apart as Newtownabbey and east Belfast were disrupted by a power cut.
An explosion at an electricity sub-station had cut power to over 28,000 homes in the Belfast area.
First Minister Peter Robinson said that the “criminal terrorists” responsible for the bombscares and hijackings were “beneath contempt”.
“In recent weeks, Northern Ireland has sent these murderers the message loud and clear. We will not be dragged back into death and mayhem,” he said.
“These criminals will fail because of the resolve of the people of Northern Ireland. The people of our province have spoken over recent weeks: those who would try to destabilise and destroy Northern Ireland will fail. We won't be going back.
“I would appeal for calm and restraint from everyone in the community. Let us all work with the police to bring these criminal murderers to justice and put them behind bars where they belong.”
Ulster Unionist leader, Sir Reg Empey also hit out at those behind the trouble.
“The disruption in the Belfast area has been caused by republican elements who, frustrated at their failure so far to gain support after the Antrim and Craigavon killings, are determined to pursue their warped campaign regardless of the cost,” he said.
“As this is yet another test for our community, I appeal again for people to remain calm, and not under any circumstances to retaliate.”
Sinn Féin MLA for North Belfast, Carál Ní Chuilín, said: “These actions are wrong and counterproductive to anything that our communities want.
“All that those who have closed our off arterial routes are responsible for is causing disruption to these communities. This includes republican, nationalist and unionist communities but mainly, if you look at where these alerts are, it is republican communities that are being affected the most.
“I would like the spokespeople of those behind these alerts to come forward and explain how this will in any way achieve a united Ireland.”
SDLP deputy leader Dr Alasdair McDonnell said those responsible were “enemies of the new Ireland”.
“Their actions are wrong; we must be unequivocal in our message to these people. They have no place in our society.”
And former Belfast lord mayor Jim Rodgers described those behind the trouble as “the scum of the earth”.
“These people should be ashamed of themselves,” he said.
Ulster Unionist Upper Bann Assemblymen Sam Gardiner and George Savage said: “Dissident |republicans have really nothing to offer but mindless violence, disruption of everyday life and a very bleak future indeed for the whole community. If they had anything to say that was worth listening to they could make their arguments and try to persuade people of their viewpoint.”
- Text Size
Comments
69 Comments
I don't see why our little island is any worse than what goes on in other countries. It's just because of our history and because the country is small that the problems are highlighted. Where I get angry is that the police force don't or are unalbe to do more. If this was the States, these people would be locked up or dealt with severely. Over here it's always a case of 'we have no proof' or we have to protect the perpetrators. It's the law that makes ME want to leave the UK.
Posted by Sarah | 01.04.09, 14:25 GMT
Stop calling these people "dissidents" or "republicans"!!!
They are just criminals! Simple clowns that want to ruin everything that was acheived throughout these years!
Posted by sajko | 01.04.09, 11:44 GMT
Mark "Mickey recently suggested that every person in the south of Ireland wears sack cloths and rags and eats gruel"
Just you Mark, just you.
I see you took my comment out of context.
Posted by mickey | 01.04.09, 10:52 GMT
I think it should be clear, most of the trouble caused recently is the work of car thieves and local thugs just jumping on the dissident bandwagon.
That photo of the White Mountain roadsweeper truck says it all - it's in the area doing a good job for the local community, yet the local thugs hijack it and destroy it.
Are the local communities too scared to admonish or point the finger at these thugs ? There's a psyche of turning a blind eye to this stuff when it's happening on your doorstep
BTW William's post (2032 31-Mar) made the most sense in everything I have read here. If only our politicians were so likeminded.
Posted by Frank | 01.04.09, 10:23 GMT
Why can't these trouble makers wake up and realise that their actions are selfish and irresponsible? Can't they grasp the concept that the good and decent amongst us have all moved on with our lives and want peace amounst all religions rather than the unease and hate they're trying to create. If they're so against the fact that people just want to get on with our lives then they should be the ones to move away so they don't have to see a calmer Ireland, north and south. As for the idiots that are planting 'suspicious' objects everywhere: GET A LIFE and seek some physcotherapy. It doesn't matter what side of the devide you live on you're just a pack of losers!
Posted by Kaye | 01.04.09, 07:12 GMT
The Assembly should retire for ten years with pay for ten years! Gawd bless the british taxpayer! The Garda deal with this type of situation every second weekend in Dublin and Limerick.
Posted by Linda Kennedy | 01.04.09, 03:00 GMT
People on here have no idea of the history the island of Ireland has. It is mind blowing to read some of this diatribe bull.
to Colin- why would we move? Northern Ireland at one time was all Irish- we want you to go back to the where you came from . We shouldnt have to share two nations, just because they came to Ireland and declared it theres doesnt mean it is.
Several of these divided countries you have spoken of are far from harmonic.
People on here are correct , The Republic cannot afford the North be it Catholic or Protestant . Irish government wouldnt entertain good tax paying money on unemployment.
Posted by Bemused | 01.04.09, 00:56 GMT
I'm glad that I left N.Ireland. It really is a disgrace. I feel sorry for the decent folk left behind.
Posted by canuck | 31.03.09, 23:59 GMT
Seems as though basic thuggery is taking place. Normally the "Nutting Squad" would take care of the joyriders and others who have become a nuisance. The problem here is that these so called units are committing low level operations. It is more like a cry for attention than an order from a high ranking CO. The burning and leaving a car on the railway tracks are signs of wanting to be noticed. The "Two-pack" style of kneecapping is very low level ranks at best. This group feels that the time to make a name for themselves and gain the respect is now. They are not thinking clearly about the very seasoned person who has put down the gun and diffused the bomb because that was their order from their CO. If the IRA deals with these troublemakers will they be put in a bad light because it could be said that they are operational again? I bet the IRA is thinking the same thing.
Posted by Chris | 31.03.09, 23:50 GMT
It just shows the idiocity of these republiclican eejits who want the 'British forces' off British soil, YET they start their trouble again, which just means the British Forces are going to REMAIN in this part of Britain. And Colin, I couldn't agree more with you m8.
Posted by Stuart | 31.03.09, 23:45 GMT
We pray for peace for Belfast & Northern Ireland. We visited the Republic & Northern Ireland in September & October 2008. My grandmother was born in Belfast and we visited with family living north of Belfast. While we were in the Republic we heard of a bomb being found in the Belfast area, but were not going to let that deter us from visiting all of Ireland. Hearing our family, who worked across the street from a bombed building, talk about the fear and lack of rebuilding for so many years due to the "troubles", I hope that the majority of the people (on both sides) will not tolerate a return to this violence by a few "terrorists". I do understand the background of the "troubles" as I have both catholic & protestant ancetors. So much progress has been made in the past few years. I pray that the children will not be subjected to violence returning to N.I. We're all god's children & the majority of the people of N.I. get along together just fine.
Posted by Shirley | 31.03.09, 23:32 GMT
Neither Loyalists or 'decent' Republicans want a return to violence These dissidents are destroying the Republican cause and that is good for me. It's easy to take a life, but not easy to restore it. We can have our own traditions and beliefs, but everyone wants a job. next time i'll have the eye operation done instead of gettig bluttered.
Posted by James | 31.03.09, 22:38 GMT
having been born and raised in belfast, and now in the states, I am really deeply saddened to hear northern ireland is now stepping back instead of forward, and ruining the peace we have built over the past years, for peace living citizens...do we really want our future children to go through what we did? are we so quick to forget all the innocent lives lost? i was proud that ireland had searched for peace while other countries are at War...every time an american hears my accent they comment on how wonderful it is ireland has improved...i think its a shame to ruin what we have as a country worked so hard to build by letting others step in and shame us!
Posted by jen | 31.03.09, 22:15 GMT
The reason why Terra del Fuego does not face the same problems as Ireland is probably because there's no people living there
Would it really be a good strategy to remove all human beings from Ireland just to benefit the peace process utopia of zero dissident-crimes? I don't think so Colin!
Posted by Erik | 31.03.09, 21:40 GMT
Can't believe that all this has started up again! I thought that finally those scary days of my childhood were long gone and that NI could start to enjoy a bright future. It appears not! I'm glad I upped sticks and left. Any summer holiday I was thinking of taking back home if now gone and there' s no way I'm going to waste my money in NI. I'm sure there are a lot more like me who will stay away, there goes your tourist dollars NI! Wise up you little thugs, you're ruining things for everyone!
Posted by Vanessa | 31.03.09, 21:35 GMT
I'm so sorry for all the pain in the last few months and the last few decades. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and feelings. Keep writing, keep talking, keep listening to each other. Thank you for your willingness to stand together.
Posted by Tisera | 31.03.09, 21:02 GMT
Happened to back home yesterday visiting my parents - I live in Dublin. Remembered very quickly why I got out of N.Ireland in the first place - a Reginald Maudling moment - and why I am glad my kids were not brought up in the place.
Posted by Mick | 31.03.09, 20:51 GMT
People are discussing religion being the reasons for this disgusting behaviour. These people are do not represent anyone. Nothing more.
I live in Dublin and find people in the Republic very excepting, you just need to look at the population of Ireland. I'm originally from Newtownards, being brought up in a Protestant tainted lifestyle has not changed me as a person, I have beliefs beyond this world and understand life is too short to have to suffer at the hands of these Immoral beings.
If they had a Moral bone in there body they would take a look at themselves and understand its not their Northern Ireland, its ours and we all have rights to live in peace. The Forces weither it be the PSNI, the Garda or the Military on both sides should fix this and stamp out this unacceptable behaviour once and for all.
Enough is Enough.
Posted by Gavin | 31.03.09, 20:40 GMT
im a prodestant but i ask all like minded cathelics take the hand of friendship and path of peace all these dissidents of whatever cast would as soon turn against you than anyone else and you know it ghandi didn use force its counter productive
Posted by william | 31.03.09, 20:32 GMT
I agree with Peter Robinson on the whole, these people have no support whatsoever in the community. Their press conference demonstrated just how on the fringe they are, it was a parody!
Posted by Farrah | 31.03.09, 20:07 GMT
69 Comments