BLOODY MURDER ON CARNIVAL DAY
Bloody murder' on carnival day
A STUNNED Ronnie Flanagan last night said men, women and babies were led like lambs to the slaughter.
The Chief Constable stood among the rubble and declared that "bloody murder" had been the bombers' intent.
He said those responsible gave a grossly inaccurate warning.
"This is an act not carried out against the police or the army or against the peace process, but against the people of Omagh.
"We have had men, women and children slaughtered here this afternoon, slaughtered by murderers who wanted to murder, by murderers who have nothing else to offer. "There were men women and children out shopping. "Children with their mothers shopping for school uniforms, going about their business on the busiest day of the week here." A warning was received at 2.30pm and a car bomb went off 40 minutes later.
But the Chief Constable said police were told that the bomb was close to the court house.
"As our officers searched that area, a bomb detonated 400 yards away," he added.
He said the bomb had been planted in a maroon Vauxhall Astra and he appealed for anyone who saw the vehicle to come forward.
Murder
The scene was being meticulously examined, said the Chief Constable.
"Our thoughts go out to the people who have been injured. It's hard to come to any other conclusion other than bloody murder was the intent of the bombers."
The RUC Sub-divisional Commander for Omagh condemned the "mayhem" caused by today's outrage.
"Those who leave bombs can never guarantee that damage will be limited to property ," Superintendent James Baxter said in a statement.
"What chance have any of us when we are told the bomb is a courthouse when the actual target get is ordinary townspeople in a busy shopping centre hundreds of yards away? "Bombers serve no cause other than murder and mayhem."
He praised the extraordinary efforts of ambulance, fire, hospital and police personnel in coping with the tragedy.
A STUNNED Ronnie Flanagan last night said men, women and babies were led like lambs to the slaughter.
The Chief Constable stood among the rubble and declared that "bloody murder" had been the bombers' intent.
He said those responsible gave a grossly inaccurate warning.
"This is an act not carried out against the police or the army or against the peace process, but against the people of Omagh.
"We have had men, women and children slaughtered here this afternoon, slaughtered by murderers who wanted to murder, by murderers who have nothing else to offer. "There were men women and children out shopping. "Children with their mothers shopping for school uniforms, going about their business on the busiest day of the week here." A warning was received at 2.30pm and a car bomb went off 40 minutes later.
But the Chief Constable said police were told that the bomb was close to the court house.
"As our officers searched that area, a bomb detonated 400 yards away," he added.
He said the bomb had been planted in a maroon Vauxhall Astra and he appealed for anyone who saw the vehicle to come forward.
Murder
The scene was being meticulously examined, said the Chief Constable.
"Our thoughts go out to the people who have been injured. It's hard to come to any other conclusion other than bloody murder was the intent of the bombers."
The RUC Sub-divisional Commander for Omagh condemned the "mayhem" caused by today's outrage.
"Those who leave bombs can never guarantee that damage will be limited to property ," Superintendent James Baxter said in a statement.
"What chance have any of us when we are told the bomb is a courthouse when the actual target get is ordinary townspeople in a busy shopping centre hundreds of yards away? "Bombers serve no cause other than murder and mayhem."
He praised the extraordinary efforts of ambulance, fire, hospital and police personnel in coping with the tragedy.
Further Information
Publisher: SUNDAY LIFE
Ref: SL/004
Published Date: 16-Aug-98
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