LONDON POLICE TO HELP WITH OMAGH PROBE
London police to help with Omagh probe
By Valerie Robinson
RUC Chief Constable Ronnie Flanagan is bringing in anti-terrorist officers from London to help the police investigation into the Omagh bombing.
A number of specialised officers from the London Metropolitan Police are due to fly into Northern Ireland today.
It is the first time that officers from Britain have travelled to Northern Ireland to work on a large-scale police operation.
According to an RUC statement, the UK officers will "assist the task force investigating the Omagh bombing".
"The decision follows direct contact between Mr Flanagan and Assistant Commissioner Special Operations, David Veness, and is a direct consequence of the immensity of the task facing detectives.
"The London officers' experience in dealing with similar attacks in England will help identify possible evidence from the tons of rubble," police said.
The Chief Constable last night said he was "delighted with the cooperation which has been extended".
"Our London colleagues will be working with our own experienced officers. All material [from the bombsite] will be forwarded to the Northern Ireland Forensic Science Agency who will supervise the expert examination."
Deputy Chief Constable for Crime Eric Anderson said the police were "facing an enormous task requiring meticulous examination of literally tons of rubble".
"This additional help represents a very significant increase in our ability to extract as quickly as humanly possible every last piece of evidence in what is a very complex jigsaw."
By Valerie Robinson
RUC Chief Constable Ronnie Flanagan is bringing in anti-terrorist officers from London to help the police investigation into the Omagh bombing.
A number of specialised officers from the London Metropolitan Police are due to fly into Northern Ireland today.
It is the first time that officers from Britain have travelled to Northern Ireland to work on a large-scale police operation.
According to an RUC statement, the UK officers will "assist the task force investigating the Omagh bombing".
"The decision follows direct contact between Mr Flanagan and Assistant Commissioner Special Operations, David Veness, and is a direct consequence of the immensity of the task facing detectives.
"The London officers' experience in dealing with similar attacks in England will help identify possible evidence from the tons of rubble," police said.
The Chief Constable last night said he was "delighted with the cooperation which has been extended".
"Our London colleagues will be working with our own experienced officers. All material [from the bombsite] will be forwarded to the Northern Ireland Forensic Science Agency who will supervise the expert examination."
Deputy Chief Constable for Crime Eric Anderson said the police were "facing an enormous task requiring meticulous examination of literally tons of rubble".
"This additional help represents a very significant increase in our ability to extract as quickly as humanly possible every last piece of evidence in what is a very complex jigsaw."
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0065
Published Date: 19-Aug-98
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