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Soldiers shot dead in Northern Ireland terror attack
Sunday, 8 March 2009
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Two soldiers were shot dead outside a military barracks in Northern Ireland last night.
Four other people, at least two of them civilians, were wounded when they were hit by two bursts of automatic fire at Massereene Barracks, Antrim.
Its understood a car or van pulled up outside the main gates. Soldiers and security staff thought pizzas were being delivered and walked straight into an ambush.
Dissident republicans opposed to the Northern Ireland peace process were immediately blamed.
Ian Paisley Jr, a member of the Policing Board, said afterwards: "This could be a defining moment in the history of Northern Ireland."
The attack happened just 36 hours after Northern Ireland Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde confirmed that undercover soldiers had been called in to carry out surveillance operations on dissidents amid warnings that the threat against his officers and military personnel was at its highest for almost a decade.
Witnesses reported hearing two long busts of gunfire as a car drove by the barracks.
At least six ambulances and three paramedic vehicles rushed to the scene as emergency sirens blared from inside the complex.
The injured were taken to Antrim Area Hospital, about a mile away.
The area around the barracks was sealed off and a massive security operation was under way.
Nobody has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.
Last year dissident Republicans tried to kill PSNI officers in separate incidents in Derry City and Dungannon Co Tyrone.
Last month security forces also defused a 300lb bomb in Castlewellan Co Down which may have been intended for an attack on a nearby barracks.
Mr Paisley, a Democratic Unionist member of the Northern Ireland Assembly, said: "For the last 10 years, people believed things like this happened in foreign countries, places like Basra. Unfortunately it has returned to our doorstep.
"There are people who have been intent on murdering police officers or soldiers, or someone else, to strike home and galvanise support for some mad cause. This is where we are tonight.
"Some people also tried to exaggerate that message, and if this shooting is attributed to dissident republicans, then it was no exaggeration.
"The police have managed to keep the lid on this and they have had some successes against these people which they've kept quiet. They have disrupted and harried them, but its the people of Northern Ireland who will suffer."
Security chiefs had warned for months that dissident republicans were determined to inflict fatalities. Five police officers, two of them off-duty, were wounded in separate gun and bomb attacks in Londonderry, Dungannon, Co Tyrone, near Castlederg, also Tyrone, and not far from Roslea, Co Fermanagh, where the threat has been at its highest.
There have also been a series of failed bomb attacks, one just a few weeks ago near Castlewellan, Co Down.
The last soldier to be murdered in Northern Ireland was Lance Bombardier Stephen Restorick, 23, who was shot by an IRA sniper at a checkpoint in Bessbrook, County Armagh in February 1997.
The 38 Engineer Regiment has been based at Massereene Barracks since August last year but is due to be relocated to RAF Aldergrove in Co Antrim by the end of 2010.
The relocations were announced in April last year by Armed Forces Minister Bob Ainsworth who said Massereene Barracks would then be closed and disposed of.
Kylie McLaughlin, who lives near the scene, told the BBC: "It was constant fire like a machine gun.
"It was very scary, we were not sure what was happening. We just can't believe it has happened here."
The SDLP's Thomas Burns MLA said: "We condemn this attack.
"This has taken us back to the bad, bad old days which we have left long since behind.
"It will cause the power sharing executive to wobble a bit - we are all very, very concerned about that."
He added: "We are interested about moving Northern Ireland forward.
"We want to see a prosperous Northern Ireland, we don't want to see people getting shot in the street."
Northern Ireland's First Minister and Democratic Unionist Party leader Peter Robinson said he was postponing a trip to the United States as a result of the shootings.
He said they were a "terrible reminder of the events of the past".
Mr Robinson added: "These murders were a futile act by those who command no public support and have no prospect of success in their campaign. It will not succeed."
Some reports suggested the attackers arrived at the barracks in a taxi vehicle to evade suspicion.
The SDLP condemned the attack which it branded as brutal and despicable.
South Antrim MLA Thomas Burns said: "Like many, we had hoped and prayed that nights like this were firmly in the past.
"It is important we unite as a community and send out a message to those responsible that they have absolutely no support.
"Tonight the two families are in mourning as a result of this despicable attack."
He appealed to anyone with information to contact the police.
It emerged last week that intelligence service MI5 was still allocating 15% of its resources in 2007-2008 to anti-terrorism activities in Northern Ireland.
The Intelligence & Security Committee Report also said that dissident republicans continued to pose a threat in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.
He said: "My thoughts are with the families of those killed and injured in this murderous attack. The Prime Minister is being kept closely informed.
"The contrast between those who serve the community and those who would destroy it could not be clearer.
"The people who did this will be pursued and they can be assured that they will never be able stop political progress in Northern Ireland."
Downing Street added in a statement::"This is a terrible incident that we utterly condemn and the prime minister's thoughts, first and foremost, are with the families of those killed and with those seriously injured in this attack.
"In recent days action has been taken to increase security in Northern Ireland. This is because of the increased threat from those who, even at this late stage, wish to ignore the wishes of the overwhelming majority of the people of Northern Ireland and attempt to derail the peace process.
"The full facts of this incident are being investigated. We will do everything we can to ensure those responsible are brought to justice."
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Comments
39 Comments
my heart and thoughts go out to the families of those innocent young men whos lives were taken by evil scum who deserve nothing less than to hang from a rope! i feel so utterly disgusted with this cowardly act and hope and pray those evil scum are brought to justice.
Posted by caroline | 09.03.09, 10:41 GMT
The RIRA are nothing more than a bunch of thugs. The people of NI want a life. Living under the rule of violence has emotionally destroy this society. Rid your communities of these thugs and take back your life.
Posted by Icm | 09.03.09, 03:50 GMT
JerryF: don't try and put any blame for the actions of republican dissidents on Hugh Orde. The army were not on the streets, there was no possibility of harrassment. The old republican chestnut of the 'presence of the british army in the North' as an excuse is not acceptable. It is because of these blood thirsty scum that the army may very well end up on the streets again. The RIRA recently abandoned a 300lb bomb near Castlewellan and we all know what the RIRA can do with bombs: another Omagh? These cowardly murderers may very well light the spark that ignites the cycle of violence again. Loyalists may feel that this unprovoked attack warrants retaliation especially as 2 unarmed delivery drivers were also targetted.
Contrary to what you think JerryF this is a democratic society: everyone has a vote. there is no excuse for this outrage. The republican leaders must be seen to speak out against this atrocity if they want to have any credibility in the peace process.
Posted by RobbyA | 09.03.09, 01:44 GMT
a sad saaaaad day for Northern Ireland and the peaceful future all right thinking people have been living and hoping for there over the last 10 years ! Gordon Brown / Sir Huge Orde, before these terrorist thugs or their cohorts murder anyone else , please rid Northern Ireland's society of them , quietly and effectively ....... who could possibly have anything against their removal FOR EVER ! In agreement with William , these dregs have given up their own human rights by choosing their evil and destructive course of murder & terror , rid the normal NI population of them , A.S.A.P.
Posted by bewildered & sad ex Belfast Boy | 08.03.09, 21:53 GMT
To JerryF - This was an Engineer Regiment that was attacked. The reason they are here is to remove military installations and return the country to the way it is - not as law enforcers as you wrongly have stated. Sympathies to the families and colleagues of the soldiers killed. Hopefully the 'Law Enforcers' catch up and deal with the perperators without any political interference from some of the more undesirable members of the Policing Board. Ubique.
Posted by William | 08.03.09, 20:59 GMT
We dont want to go back to the way this country used to be, Only the scumbags are keeping this stupid thing going. We are at peace now and we dont want it to change. Sympathies to all the families involved
Posted by Eibhilin | 08.03.09, 16:41 GMT
I hope when these scumbags are caught that we have proper justice and they aren't allowed to hide behind the same reasons that previous murdering scum were able to do - political causes. No early release - put them inside for life as jailed murderers not any other title. Make life mean life!
Posted by Geoff | 08.03.09, 16:32 GMT
In Fairness, Martin Maguinness has outright condemed this atrocity on RTE in no uncertain terms. I think cool heads are required on all sides. The most important this is to let the police do their Job in bringing the scum to justice.
Posted by Adrian - Dublin | 08.03.09, 16:29 GMT
my band played about half an hour away from this attack, and i know one of the people that were attacked by these savages.
people need to grow up and stop resorting to Mesolithic methods such as violence and fighting just to prove your a big bad wolf
my families have always told me what the bad days of northern ireland were like, but i have a feeling that i may experience it for myself.
this, i am not looking forward to
Posted by brandon newey | 08.03.09, 16:13 GMT
sympathy to the families invloved. These murdering scumbags should swing from the end of a rope. Shame on SF, their silence is deafening!!
Posted by a soldiers mum | 08.03.09, 15:33 GMT
The war is over??????
It is only over when it suits people. Now we have the cold blodded murder of two young men cut down in their prime.
It makes me laugh when we see the likes of Maskey (Sinn Fein), and Attwood (SDLP) crying that they were not informed about the used of extra troops on the streets of Ulster, and now there are two young men murdered not a word, the silence in deafening.
Let the police and who ever else is needed to complete the job and rid the streets of Ulster of this murdering scum.
Posted by Jonty | 08.03.09, 15:17 GMT
absolutely ridiculous.
Posted by steve | 08.03.09, 14:46 GMT
For the past 13 years, I have had the pleasure to be a courier in the Republic and the North. I have seen the Troubles and hopefully witnessed the emerging peace. What is happening? Enough is enough. Adams, Paisley, their supporters and both governments MUST declare these hoodlums as being criminals and root them out by helping the PSNI investigate, identify, and arrest them. This is and organized crime situation; loyalist and nationalist. Get them off the streets for the good honest law abiding people of Ireland.
Posted by James J. Martin | 08.03.09, 14:42 GMT
I can't believe this could possibly happen once again in your beautiful vibrant city. I am a Canadian who loves Northern Ireland. Why on earth would anyone want to do such a thing? It must be unsettling for a certain sick few, to see a happy safe population. Unbelievable. My sincere sympathy to the families of those wonderful soldiers, and best wished to the wounded.
Posted by Lynda | 08.03.09, 14:38 GMT
Those in power need to keep cool heads,and make every effort to show a combined desire to bring the killers to justice. Forget the rhetoric about a united Ireland by peaceful means,or the opposite equally inflamatory statements. It was noted that the Sinn Fein statement made by Mr. Adams made no reference to those men who were murdered,and those who were wounded. A few words of sympathy would not have gone amiss. I hope that this may be the last such incident,and that peace will be with the people of N. Ireland for many years to come. ( Expat)
Posted by RMS | 08.03.09, 14:32 GMT
Hunt them down and slaughter them like the animals they are.
Posted by James | 08.03.09, 14:16 GMT
Dissident republicans with their idealism offer only death, destruction misery and grief for everyone including themselves and their own communities.
Posted by T J McClean | 08.03.09, 13:57 GMT
Certainly Hugh Orde bears some responsibility for this action. The presence of British soldiers in the north of Ireland is a provocation in the eyes of some people. A law enforcement problem must be handled by law enforcement officers in a democratic country. The use of the military in a situation like this is the surest sign of a dictatorship.
Posted by JerryF | 08.03.09, 12:57 GMT
The murdering scumbags are back, the powers that be know who they are. They should be taken out by ANY means available. To hell with their human rights, no public enquiries, no mercy.
Posted by William | 08.03.09, 12:53 GMT
Why has there been no comment from Sinn Fein about this attack?
I'm aftraid those who want to see a united Ireland need to remember that in these days of financial woes, Eire is almost bankrupt, and can hardly support its own residents, never mind all those thousands in the North who claim benefits of one kind or another from the UK government and who would be looking for the same support from the Irish government. A very sad state of affairs, I thought I had seen the last of such attacks. Surely its time to move on and stop dredging up the past.
Posted by G McVee | 08.03.09, 12:05 GMT
39 Comments