ONLY THE BOMBERS COULD HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE
Only the bombers could have made a difference
- BY STAFF REPORTERS -
THERE was no way an area the size of Omagh town centre could be cleared in the 29 minutes that were given in a warning call before the explosion on August 15, 1998, the area's police sub-divisional commander told the inquest into the deaths of 29 people and two unborn babies.
Superintendent James Baxter told the coroner: "I can tell you that the only people who could have made any difference on August 15 were those people who planted the bomb and those who made the telephone calls in relation to it.
"They had the ability to say that the car bomb was outside Kells shop on Market Street, the colour, and make of the car and the registration of the car. But they didn't do that," he said.
"My officers went on to High Street expecting that a car bomb was parked there. Every one of those officers put their lives at risk trying to protect this community."
He told the court that the person, who planted the bomb, saw women and children on the street and walked away.
"He did absolutely nothing to prevent people being murdered in Omagh," added the Superintendent.
Questioned by the coroner, Mr. John Leckey the superintendent said that terrorist organizations usually contacted the media to claim certain activities. He said that they would know the codeword.
The coroner asked if it was only through the media telling the police that codeword become known.
Supt. Baxter said that the police could not rely on a codeword when deciding whether to take action. He said that a codeword which had never been heard before was used in a recent bombing attack in Irvinestown and he said that similarly a code word never used before had been used in the Banbridge bomb, back in 1998.
He drew attention to the point that no one had communicated what certain codeword meant to the police.
He said that if police came to rely solely on a bomb warning with a code word prior to taking action, there was a danger in setting precedent.
He said that the police had to treat every call as the genuine article in order to safeguard the public.
He said that 68 bomb calls had been made to Omagh town since the August 15 bomb explosion, and many had been associated with a code word, he added.
Evacuation
He revealed that last Wednesday's evacuation of the Town centre following another bomb warning, had taken 42 minutes.
Supt. Baxter said he was in Bangor on the day of the explosion.
He said he had received a call on his mobile phone at 3:02pm from Inspector Johnston, telling him of the bomb warning in Omagh.
He said that he asked the inspector to ensure a full evacuation of the area was completed and said that he subsequently heard that a bomb had exploded.
Superintendent Baxter also submitted to the coroner a copy of Section 28 of the RUC procedure documents, outlining what action should be taken in major incidents or in the event of a bomb warning or explosion.
The role of the Atlas Computer System was to communicate all actions to the police communications room, he said. The task of the communications room was to direct police officers to the area and to clear and seek identification of the bomb location, he added.
Superintendent Baxter said that in the case of the Omagh Bomb no information was given to identify whether it was a car bomb, in a beer keg or in a wheelie bin.
Bomb disposal
He revealed that in the event where a precise location of a bomb was given, the Army bomb disposal experts would be called to the scene.
The coroner asked who were the designated supervisory officers on the afternoon of August 15 and was told Sergeant Marshall and Inspector Johnston would both have been in a supervisory position on that day.
The coroner asked for clarification that at the time the superintendent received the call to his mobile phone, the police seemed satisfied that the areas as far as Bridge Street had been cleared.
The superintendent said that he was aware that the evacuation was still continuing in other areas of the town.
The coroner asked the Superintendent Baxter if the use of his mobile telephone that day indicated that he had received a tip-off that something dire might happen.
The superintendent said he had not received a tip-off and said that the mobile telephone number was used for anything significant.
Mr. Leckey asked about the wording contained in a heading which mentioned contingency plans, that appeared above the bomb warning message on the Atlas Command system.
The superintendent replied that he normally relied on other officers who had been specially trained in the use of the computer, to interpret material.
The coroner then examined the wording contained in the two bomb warnings that had been received.
One message said the bomb was at the courthouse while the other message said it was near the courthouse. The coroner asserted that the message said the bomb was at a point 200 yards away from the courthouse.
The superintendent told Mr. Leckey that in the event of a bomb alert the police control room would decide if additional resources were required.
He said also if a second call came in they would need to know where to find extra resources, perhaps from Newtownstewart, Carrickmore, Beragh, Fintona or Dromore.
He confirmed to the coroner that some of those stations operated on a limited opening basis.
'Very little time'
The coroner pointed out that if a 30 minute bomb warning was received, it gave very little time to ring around to find out what the available manpower was.
Superintendent Baxter said that police officers were taught to act on their own initiative, while the Army acted on orders from those higher in command.
"I would expect officers to act on their own initiative," he said.
The Coroner asked if a bomb had ever gone off previously in the shopping area of Omagh.
Supt. Baxter replied, "yes,"
He said he had 26 years service in the RUC and during that time been involved when a car bomb was planted in Market Street.
He told the court that the car bomb was planted outside the electricity shop in Market Street.
Supt. Baxter said that at that time they had 30 minutes to clear the area when the bomb exploded. There had been no civilian casualties, but there were police casualties.
The superintendent also said that he was involved in another similar incident in Strabane.
He said that from his knowledge of Omagh there was something in the region of 180 premises and 150 vehicle parking spaces
Superintendent Baxter said that there was no way that an area like that could be cleared in 29 minutes.
The Coroner said that the task of evacuating an area in a 200 yard radius would be made worse or easier depending on the topography of the locality, or whether it was a residential or commercial.
- BY STAFF REPORTERS -
THERE was no way an area the size of Omagh town centre could be cleared in the 29 minutes that were given in a warning call before the explosion on August 15, 1998, the area's police sub-divisional commander told the inquest into the deaths of 29 people and two unborn babies.
Superintendent James Baxter told the coroner: "I can tell you that the only people who could have made any difference on August 15 were those people who planted the bomb and those who made the telephone calls in relation to it.
"They had the ability to say that the car bomb was outside Kells shop on Market Street, the colour, and make of the car and the registration of the car. But they didn't do that," he said.
"My officers went on to High Street expecting that a car bomb was parked there. Every one of those officers put their lives at risk trying to protect this community."
He told the court that the person, who planted the bomb, saw women and children on the street and walked away.
"He did absolutely nothing to prevent people being murdered in Omagh," added the Superintendent.
Questioned by the coroner, Mr. John Leckey the superintendent said that terrorist organizations usually contacted the media to claim certain activities. He said that they would know the codeword.
The coroner asked if it was only through the media telling the police that codeword become known.
Supt. Baxter said that the police could not rely on a codeword when deciding whether to take action. He said that a codeword which had never been heard before was used in a recent bombing attack in Irvinestown and he said that similarly a code word never used before had been used in the Banbridge bomb, back in 1998.
He drew attention to the point that no one had communicated what certain codeword meant to the police.
He said that if police came to rely solely on a bomb warning with a code word prior to taking action, there was a danger in setting precedent.
He said that the police had to treat every call as the genuine article in order to safeguard the public.
He said that 68 bomb calls had been made to Omagh town since the August 15 bomb explosion, and many had been associated with a code word, he added.
Evacuation
He revealed that last Wednesday's evacuation of the Town centre following another bomb warning, had taken 42 minutes.
Supt. Baxter said he was in Bangor on the day of the explosion.
He said he had received a call on his mobile phone at 3:02pm from Inspector Johnston, telling him of the bomb warning in Omagh.
He said that he asked the inspector to ensure a full evacuation of the area was completed and said that he subsequently heard that a bomb had exploded.
Superintendent Baxter also submitted to the coroner a copy of Section 28 of the RUC procedure documents, outlining what action should be taken in major incidents or in the event of a bomb warning or explosion.
The role of the Atlas Computer System was to communicate all actions to the police communications room, he said. The task of the communications room was to direct police officers to the area and to clear and seek identification of the bomb location, he added.
Superintendent Baxter said that in the case of the Omagh Bomb no information was given to identify whether it was a car bomb, in a beer keg or in a wheelie bin.
Bomb disposal
He revealed that in the event where a precise location of a bomb was given, the Army bomb disposal experts would be called to the scene.
The coroner asked who were the designated supervisory officers on the afternoon of August 15 and was told Sergeant Marshall and Inspector Johnston would both have been in a supervisory position on that day.
The coroner asked for clarification that at the time the superintendent received the call to his mobile phone, the police seemed satisfied that the areas as far as Bridge Street had been cleared.
The superintendent said that he was aware that the evacuation was still continuing in other areas of the town.
The coroner asked the Superintendent Baxter if the use of his mobile telephone that day indicated that he had received a tip-off that something dire might happen.
The superintendent said he had not received a tip-off and said that the mobile telephone number was used for anything significant.
Mr. Leckey asked about the wording contained in a heading which mentioned contingency plans, that appeared above the bomb warning message on the Atlas Command system.
The superintendent replied that he normally relied on other officers who had been specially trained in the use of the computer, to interpret material.
The coroner then examined the wording contained in the two bomb warnings that had been received.
One message said the bomb was at the courthouse while the other message said it was near the courthouse. The coroner asserted that the message said the bomb was at a point 200 yards away from the courthouse.
The superintendent told Mr. Leckey that in the event of a bomb alert the police control room would decide if additional resources were required.
He said also if a second call came in they would need to know where to find extra resources, perhaps from Newtownstewart, Carrickmore, Beragh, Fintona or Dromore.
He confirmed to the coroner that some of those stations operated on a limited opening basis.
'Very little time'
The coroner pointed out that if a 30 minute bomb warning was received, it gave very little time to ring around to find out what the available manpower was.
Superintendent Baxter said that police officers were taught to act on their own initiative, while the Army acted on orders from those higher in command.
"I would expect officers to act on their own initiative," he said.
The Coroner asked if a bomb had ever gone off previously in the shopping area of Omagh.
Supt. Baxter replied, "yes,"
He said he had 26 years service in the RUC and during that time been involved when a car bomb was planted in Market Street.
He told the court that the car bomb was planted outside the electricity shop in Market Street.
Supt. Baxter said that at that time they had 30 minutes to clear the area when the bomb exploded. There had been no civilian casualties, but there were police casualties.
The superintendent also said that he was involved in another similar incident in Strabane.
He said that from his knowledge of Omagh there was something in the region of 180 premises and 150 vehicle parking spaces
Superintendent Baxter said that there was no way that an area like that could be cleared in 29 minutes.
The Coroner said that the task of evacuating an area in a 200 yard radius would be made worse or easier depending on the topography of the locality, or whether it was a residential or commercial.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1535
Published Date: 21-Sep-00
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