Stormont leaders and chief constable in show of unity against station attack

By Rebecca Black and Claudia Savage (Press Association)

The Stormont leader and the chief constable have stood together in united condemnation of the latest suspected dissident republican attack.

First Minister Michelle O’Neill said it was a day for “strong condemnation, not political nonsense”, in the aftermath of a car bomb attack on Dunmurry police station, which is believed to be the work of the New IRA.

A male delivery driver was hijacked in the Twinbrook area of west Belfast on Saturday, a device placed inside the vehicle, and he was ordered to drive to Dunmurry police station.

The car exploded outside the station as people were being evacuated.

The incident is being treated by police as attempted murder.

The incident came just weeks after an attempted car bomb attack on Lurgan police station.

Speaking at a joint press conference at Parliament Buildings in Belfast, with deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly and chief constable Jon Boutcher, Ms O’Neill said they were sending a clear message of condemnation.

“We are absolutely united in condemnation of what has happened, nobody wants to see this on our streets, nobody wants to see the fear that that community experienced on Saturday evening,” she said.

“I don’t think this is a day for political nonsense.

“I think this is a day for strong condemnation.

“This is a day for us to be united in saying these groups have no place in our society, and it’s a day for us all to say collectively that anybody with any information whatsoever should come forward to the PSNI, because these people need to be dealt with before the courts.”

Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly added: “I think it’s really important that we do stand very strongly together, that we send very clear messages.

“There is a responsibility across all of the political parties, particularly at a leadership level, to be sending a very clear message, a condemnation of this terrorist attack on Saturday night, but indeed, a very clear condemnation right across the piece.

“Terrorism is always wrong. It is always without justification, should that have been 10, 20, 40, 50 years ago or on Saturday night.

“Let’s send that clear message, let’s send that clear leadership, particularly to our young people coming up, that this is absolutely not for the future.

“It is not our present. It is not wanted, and we need to stand together against that.”

Mr Boutcher said an attack on his police service is an “attack on all of us”.

He also appealed for information to help his officers catch those responsible, adding “before these people actually harm or kill somebody”.

“It’s everybody’s responsibility to call out these reckless attacks, and that’s why we stand here today, shoulder to shoulder, in doing that,” he said.

“There is no place for these mindless thugs, these idiots who think it’s acceptable to carry out such stupid attacks.

“I can promise you, we will use all of our resources to identify them and bring them before the courts.

“I want everybody to remember this, an attack on the PSNI is an attack on everyone, on all of us.

“Again, I will appeal with anybody with any information about the people responsible to please, please, please contact us before these people actually harm or kill somebody.

“Please contact us if you know something, even if you think you might know who’s responsible.

“Please, please, please reach out to the PSNI before they actually do kill somebody.”

left-right) Northern Ireland Policing Board , Chair Brendan Mullan, Northern Ireland First Minister president Michelle O'Neill, deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly and Chief Constable Jon Boutcher speak to the media in the Great Hall at Parliament Buildings, Stormont, Belfast (Photo by Liam McBurney/PA Wire)