POLICE PHONE HQ SWAMPED BY CALLS
Police phone HQ swamped by calls
By Nevin Farrell
THE police yesterday revealed the extent of the massive operation which swung into place following the Omagh bomb.
The RUC's specialist 'Casualty Bureau' - based at RUC headquarters in Belfast - was set up with a team of between 30 and 40 staff answering calls from worried relatives.
Yesterday the bureau line was only receiving isolated calls and it was set to be wound down last night. But it has received thousands of calls since Saturday's outrage.
At one stage on Saturday 800 calls were logged in a 15 minute period, as desperate family members, friends and neighbours sought information.
Interpreters skilled in Spanish were also involved, because of the large number of Spaniards caught up in the blast.
The casualty bureau was last used in the aftermath of the Shankill bomb in 1993.
Meanwhile, in Omagh, dozens of detectives and police officers were operating out of a special incident room, as the hunt for the killers continued.
The incident room numbers are: 01662 244159, 256675, 256676 and an answerphone line 246979.
By Nevin Farrell
THE police yesterday revealed the extent of the massive operation which swung into place following the Omagh bomb.
The RUC's specialist 'Casualty Bureau' - based at RUC headquarters in Belfast - was set up with a team of between 30 and 40 staff answering calls from worried relatives.
Yesterday the bureau line was only receiving isolated calls and it was set to be wound down last night. But it has received thousands of calls since Saturday's outrage.
At one stage on Saturday 800 calls were logged in a 15 minute period, as desperate family members, friends and neighbours sought information.
Interpreters skilled in Spanish were also involved, because of the large number of Spaniards caught up in the blast.
The casualty bureau was last used in the aftermath of the Shankill bomb in 1993.
Meanwhile, in Omagh, dozens of detectives and police officers were operating out of a special incident room, as the hunt for the killers continued.
The incident room numbers are: 01662 244159, 256675, 256676 and an answerphone line 246979.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0082
Published Date: 19-Aug-98
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