Gun attack on police condemned
Police investigating a security alert near the border came under gun attack
Sunday March 21 2010
Police who were targeted by gunmen as they investigated a security alert near the Irish border were the victims of a cowardly attack, a senior officer has said.
The police escaped injury when they were fired upon at around 9.15pm on Sunday as they investigated reports of a suspicious device on the railway line outside Newry, Co Down.
Dissident republicans opposed to the peace process have been blamed for the security alert which closed the Dublin to Belfast rail link.
Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) District Commander Superintendent Alisdair Robinson condemned the gun attack.
"This attack was a cowardly attempt to kill police officers in the course of their duty as they investigate a suspicious object that may have the potential to kill or injure not only police but members of the local community," he said. "Police will continue to deliver a service to the community despite the threat from these criminal terrorists, but we must also be mindful of that threat.
"Officers will continue to look after the policing needs of all our people and will put in place whatever measures are necessary to take a robust stance against those who seem determined to disrupt and attack local communities.
"The people who carry out these senseless acts show a total disregard for their fellow man and are not part of the society within which the majority of people of Northern Ireland wish to live," he said. "I want to thank the local community for their patience and understanding as we investigate this current security alert.
"And I ask them for their continued support to enable us to efficiently and effectively alienate those who continue to be involved in terrorism and criminality."
The alert on the track between Killeen and Meigh led to the closure of the Belfast to Dublin rail link on Friday after the suspected device was reported.
The security scare caused travel chaos for rugby fans making their way to the Irish capital for Saturday's Ireland v Scotland Six Nations championship match at Croke Park.
