LUNCHBOX CLUE TO BOMBERS
Lunchbox clue to bombers
By Ian Graham,
PA News
A CONSIGNMENT of plastic lunchboxes could help trace the terrorist mastermind behind the Omagh atrocity.
The RUC hopes to identify the bomb maker behind the Omagh blast after reconstructing the timer used in the device.
The announcement came as a massive police sifting operation through more than 30 tonnes of rubble taken from the scene of the explosion was due to wind up today.
Chief Constable Ronnie Flanagan disclosed that the Timing Power Unit was similar to six others used in recent attacks in Ulster by the Real IRA.
All the TPUs were packed into identical plastic sandwich boxes with turquoise lids and the name Addis on the top.
Mr Flanagan appealed for anyone in the border areas who may have sold a consignment of such boxes to contact either the RUC or the Irish police.
Scotland Yard's anti-terrorist branch specialist SO13 unit was brought in by the Chief Constable to sift through the rubble taken from the scene of the explosion, which killed 28 people and injured 220 more.
Mr Flanagan said their painstaking efforts had resulted in the recovery of a "tremendous amount of valuable evidence" and he paid tribute to their work.
He said: "We have been able virtually to reconstruct the timing power unit that was used in this bomb.
"I have no doubt that this, together with all the other lines of inquiry we are pursuing, will lead us to the people who detonated that device with such devastating effect in Omagh.
"We are determined to bring to justice the people who carried out this atrocity and we are determined to leave no stone unturned."
The Scotland Yard team hopes tomorrow to finish its fingertip sifting of the rubble, stored in 13 huge skips and 17 wheeled dustbins.
The debris was collected from the bomb scene and taken to a Belfast Army base where the Scotland Yard team of 10, backed by six RUC men, have been working around-the-clock since last Friday.
Detective Inspector John MacMillan of the anti-terrorist branch, who has been leading the team, said anything significant they found was bagged up and sent for forensic examination.
He "certainly hoped" the bomb maker would be identified by their efforts .
Mr Flanagan said there had been a huge amount of help from the public in their search for the bombers, but more was needed.
Apart from identifying who bought the sandwich boxes, he also wanted information from whoever made the professionally-manufactured false number plates - MDZ 5211 - which were fitted to the Vauxhall car used to carry the bomb.
He also called on anyone who had seen a box van which travelled into Omagh along the Campie Road in company with the Vauxhall to contact detectives.
By Ian Graham,
PA News
A CONSIGNMENT of plastic lunchboxes could help trace the terrorist mastermind behind the Omagh atrocity.
The RUC hopes to identify the bomb maker behind the Omagh blast after reconstructing the timer used in the device.
The announcement came as a massive police sifting operation through more than 30 tonnes of rubble taken from the scene of the explosion was due to wind up today.
Chief Constable Ronnie Flanagan disclosed that the Timing Power Unit was similar to six others used in recent attacks in Ulster by the Real IRA.
All the TPUs were packed into identical plastic sandwich boxes with turquoise lids and the name Addis on the top.
Mr Flanagan appealed for anyone in the border areas who may have sold a consignment of such boxes to contact either the RUC or the Irish police.
Scotland Yard's anti-terrorist branch specialist SO13 unit was brought in by the Chief Constable to sift through the rubble taken from the scene of the explosion, which killed 28 people and injured 220 more.
Mr Flanagan said their painstaking efforts had resulted in the recovery of a "tremendous amount of valuable evidence" and he paid tribute to their work.
He said: "We have been able virtually to reconstruct the timing power unit that was used in this bomb.
"I have no doubt that this, together with all the other lines of inquiry we are pursuing, will lead us to the people who detonated that device with such devastating effect in Omagh.
"We are determined to bring to justice the people who carried out this atrocity and we are determined to leave no stone unturned."
The Scotland Yard team hopes tomorrow to finish its fingertip sifting of the rubble, stored in 13 huge skips and 17 wheeled dustbins.
The debris was collected from the bomb scene and taken to a Belfast Army base where the Scotland Yard team of 10, backed by six RUC men, have been working around-the-clock since last Friday.
Detective Inspector John MacMillan of the anti-terrorist branch, who has been leading the team, said anything significant they found was bagged up and sent for forensic examination.
He "certainly hoped" the bomb maker would be identified by their efforts .
Mr Flanagan said there had been a huge amount of help from the public in their search for the bombers, but more was needed.
Apart from identifying who bought the sandwich boxes, he also wanted information from whoever made the professionally-manufactured false number plates - MDZ 5211 - which were fitted to the Vauxhall car used to carry the bomb.
He also called on anyone who had seen a box van which travelled into Omagh along the Campie Road in company with the Vauxhall to contact detectives.
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0307
Published Date: 28-Aug-98
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