OMAGH BOMBERS IDENTIFIED BUT MORE EVIDENCE NEEDED
Omagh bombers identified 'but more evidence needed'
By Jonathan Turner
THE top RUC detective leading the Omagh bomb investigation has said police know who the bombers are -but are still putting together the evidence to convict them.
In an interview with The Express yesterday, Chief Superintendent Eric Anderson said vital forensic evidence has been recovered from the remains of the bomb which killed 29 people in August.
Detectives found fibres from the man who made the bomb in the hot melt glue he used to hold the device together and insulate the wiring.
Police believe the bombmaker was extremely experienced.
Individual "trademarks" in the way he constructed the bomb link him to five previous devices.
Mr Anderson's team believes up to 20 people were involved in the bomb attack in some shape or form. The bomb was constructed in south Armagh - but probably not by the former IRA expert who was initially believed to have been involved.
All the gang members came from four border counties - Louth, Monaghan, south Armagh and Tyrone.
Mr Anderson said police were determined that when the gang was apprehended, the case against them would be as air-tight as possible.
And he added that the remorse of those who carried out the attack could well be the trigger which will lead to a breakthrough in the inquiry.
"We know the team responsible," he said. "Now we have to confirm exactly who did what in that team.
"The purpose of this investigation now is to tie these people down. In many ways, it is the fate of the victims which is causing the greatest grief to the suspects.
"I don't for a moment believe remorse can reduce the level of the atrocity. But the aim here, as always, was to kill 'Brits'. In the event, they failed singly to do that.
"And there will for generations be people in the streets of Omagh who will bear the scars of the attack. It was a cock-up.
"Ultimately the human carnage we confronted in Omagh and the guilt that may be triggered could itself provide us with the key which opens Pandora's box."
Mr Anderson recently asked anyone with any information about the bombers to "look into your hearts" and come forward.
"When I made my appeal, I believed it was fair to introduce this emotional element into the equation.
"These people know what they did. You have to ask yourself the question, how much longer can they live with their crime?"
Mr Anderson also revealed how forensic experts have painstakingly reconstructed the fragments of the device recovered in Omagh. They have discovered the bombmaker went to extraordinary lengths to conceal his identity.
He wore Marigold rubber gloves while assembling the device - the forensics team found the trademark criss-cross markings from the fingers on the bomb.
He also used a hot knife to remove all the markings from the plastic lunchbox which contained the bomb's wiring. The bomb was also fitted with a "unique" safety device.
By Jonathan Turner
THE top RUC detective leading the Omagh bomb investigation has said police know who the bombers are -but are still putting together the evidence to convict them.
In an interview with The Express yesterday, Chief Superintendent Eric Anderson said vital forensic evidence has been recovered from the remains of the bomb which killed 29 people in August.
Detectives found fibres from the man who made the bomb in the hot melt glue he used to hold the device together and insulate the wiring.
Police believe the bombmaker was extremely experienced.
Individual "trademarks" in the way he constructed the bomb link him to five previous devices.
Mr Anderson's team believes up to 20 people were involved in the bomb attack in some shape or form. The bomb was constructed in south Armagh - but probably not by the former IRA expert who was initially believed to have been involved.
All the gang members came from four border counties - Louth, Monaghan, south Armagh and Tyrone.
Mr Anderson said police were determined that when the gang was apprehended, the case against them would be as air-tight as possible.
And he added that the remorse of those who carried out the attack could well be the trigger which will lead to a breakthrough in the inquiry.
"We know the team responsible," he said. "Now we have to confirm exactly who did what in that team.
"The purpose of this investigation now is to tie these people down. In many ways, it is the fate of the victims which is causing the greatest grief to the suspects.
"I don't for a moment believe remorse can reduce the level of the atrocity. But the aim here, as always, was to kill 'Brits'. In the event, they failed singly to do that.
"And there will for generations be people in the streets of Omagh who will bear the scars of the attack. It was a cock-up.
"Ultimately the human carnage we confronted in Omagh and the guilt that may be triggered could itself provide us with the key which opens Pandora's box."
Mr Anderson recently asked anyone with any information about the bombers to "look into your hearts" and come forward.
"When I made my appeal, I believed it was fair to introduce this emotional element into the equation.
"These people know what they did. You have to ask yourself the question, how much longer can they live with their crime?"
Mr Anderson also revealed how forensic experts have painstakingly reconstructed the fragments of the device recovered in Omagh. They have discovered the bombmaker went to extraordinary lengths to conceal his identity.
He wore Marigold rubber gloves while assembling the device - the forensics team found the trademark criss-cross markings from the fingers on the bomb.
He also used a hot knife to remove all the markings from the plastic lunchbox which contained the bomb's wiring. The bomb was also fitted with a "unique" safety device.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0238
Published Date: 05-Dec-98
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