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Manhunt begins for 'Real IRA' gunmen
Monday, 9 March 2009
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The Real IRA last night claimed responsibility for the execution-style killings of two British soldiers outside their barracks in Antrim.
A huge manhunt was underway for the terrorists, who are believed to be operating from Belfast and Lurgan, Co Armagh.
The savage gun attack came just days after PSNI Chief Constable Hugh Orde raised the security threat level in the to "severe".
Senior anti-terrorist officers on both sides of the Border said that initial inquiries and intelligence indicated the culprits were members of the Real IRA, which was responsible for the 1998 Omagh bombing.
Their assessment was backed up by a coded call to a newspaper in which the Real IRA claimed responsibility.
The two victims were collecting a pizza delivery at the Massereene base near Antrim when the gunmen pulled up in a vehicle and opened fire.
Four other people, including two pizza delivery men, were wounded in the shooting.
After an initial burst of gunfire, the attackers shot the victims as they lay on the ground. The two soldiers killed were in their 20s and due to fly out for duty in Afghanistan.
Last night, a 'Sunday Tribune' journalist was contacted by someone using a recognised code word, claiming the attack was carried out by the Real IRA.
Journalist Suzanne Breen said a male caller claimed responsibility for the shooting on behalf of the South Antrim brigade. He told her the Real IRA made "no apology for targeting British soldiers" while they remained "occupying the North of Ireland".
Ms Breen said the caller described the pizza staff as "collaborating with British rule".
Security sources said the involvement of the other main renegade republican organisation, the Continuity IRA, could not be ruled out.
One said: "We have to look at both options, but it seems more likely from what we know that the RIRA group, which has become increasingly active in Belfast and Lurgan in recent months, is behind the attack."
Both organisations are reckoned to have a hard core of about 100 activists in Northern Ireland. Their members are much more scattered on the southern side of the Border because of the inroads made by the gardai.
PSNI Chief Superintendent Derek Williamson said: "I have no doubt in my mind this was an attempt at mass murder."
The two young victims were the first British Army soldiers to be killed in 12 years.
The last soldier to be murdered in the Troubles was Lance-Bombardier Stephen Restorick, a 23-year-old from Peterborough in England.
The two latest victims have not yet been named, but were members of the 38 Engineers Regiment. They were dressed in desert fatigues and were due to fly out of RAF Aldergrove, just a few miles away from their base, in the early hours of yesterday.
One army insider said: "Their plane was due to leave at around 1.20am yesterday morning and this was to have been their last pizza for six months.
"They were fully prepared for war and to face the threat of the Taliban in Afghanistan but these soldiers were gunned down in cold blood before they even had the chance to leave their home base."
The gunmen were aware that soldiers at the barracks followed a regular routine on Saturday nights, when as many as 20 separate orders were made for pizza to be delivered.
One of the pizza delivery men wounded in the shooting was named locally as Anthony Watson (19), who lived in the Antrim area. His condition in hospital is described as serious. It is believed he was shot at least three times.
The condition of the second man, a 32-year-old Pole, is critical. Both worked for Domino's Pizza at Church Street, Antrim, which was open for business last night.
Police are examining a suspect vehicle abandoned in the nearby town of Randalstown at around 11pm last night.
The Massereene attack comes after repeated warnings about the capacity and intentions of dissident groups, by Sir Hugh Orde. It was disclosed last week that the dissident threat level had been officially raised to "severe" -- the second highest alert in Northern Ireland.
This came in the wake of the recent attempted car bombing of a British Army barracks at Ballykinlar in Co Down and an attack on an Orange Hall in Fermanagh. Anti-terrorist officers say there has been some crossover of personnel between the Real IRA and Continuity IRA recently. But they dismissed reports that the dissidents had set up a co-ordinated, cohesive command structure.
Since the Omagh bombing, the Real IRA has split up into several factions. A row in Portlaoise jail between the group's so-called chief of staff, Michael McKevitt, and his second in command, Liam Campbell, resulted in a deep division and the formation of separate outfits.
A third faction, led by a hardliner based in Derry, has been responsible for a series of terrorists attacks, including attempts to murder members of the PSNI, in the past 18 months.
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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