SOMEONE KNOWS THE BOMB CALLER
Someone Knows the bomb caller police chief
BY: MICHELE CANNING
RUG Chief believes that someone may know the identity of the hoax bomb caller in Omagh.
Superintendant James Baxter was speaking after three bomb alerts brought the town to a standstill on Monday night.
Speaking to the Herald, he said the bomb scares had to be taken seriously as it could ultimately be a matter of life and death.
Just after 4.30 pm police in Omagh received a telephoned warning from a male caller that a bomb had been left outside the Supervalu premises at High Street.
An immediate clearance operation got underway and Army Technical officers declared the call a hoax just after 5.20pm minutes later, another call was placed to the police claiming that a bomb had been left at Market Street the site of the Omagh atrocity in 1998. Again the area was evacuated and at 7.40 pm the scare was called off.
At the same time a male caller again reported a bomb being left 200 yards from a shop in Campsie.
Again police and army bomb experts cleared the area but it was declared safe hours later.
Speaking in the aftermath of Monday night's chaos, the Sub-Divisional Commander for the Omagh area, Superintendent James Baxter condemned the false alerts.
"Someone will know or already does know the caller. But we must take this seriously as we could be dealing with a matter of life and death".
The Superintendent said' he had been inundated with calls from traders and the customers that trading and life had been disrupted.
Omagh Chamber of Commerce President, Patrick Bogues said the bombscares are a symptom of the suspension of the Executive, and the uncertainty that has followed.
There has also been condemnation across the political divide.
The DUP's Oliver Gibson said the Omagh bomb alerts had brought home to the hearts of the community a reminder of the horror and devastation of August 15th.
He was also outraged at the 'callous and crass' bomb hoax at Craigavon Hospital on Tuesday.
"Terrorists have only one trait and that is to purvey terror and they have demonstrated their ability in that field again. These people cannot be treated as democrats."
And Joe Byrne, SDLP West Tyrone MLA, said he utterly condemned those behind the hoaxes.
The assembly man said it is very worrying at this time that someone would engage in hoaxes as a joke, when the real worry that people have is that a bomb could ensue.
"The people of Omagh and district are still suffering from the atrocity of 1998. They neither want bomb hoaxes or bombs again."
Mr Byrne said it is unacceptable that shop owners in Omagh and residents in Campsie are suffering inconvenience and disturbance at the hands of the hoax caller.
Ulster Unionist MLA, Derek Hussey condemned the hoax and all the others which have plagued the North over this past week.
Referring in particular to the Omagh hoaxes, Mr Hussey said "Those responsible are well aware of the pain and trauma rekindled within the whole community by such actions.
"Democrats express their desires through the ballot box without resource to violence or the threat of violence and such incidents further emphasise the need for also the materials of terror to be taken out of our society" said Mr Hussey.
BY: MICHELE CANNING
RUG Chief believes that someone may know the identity of the hoax bomb caller in Omagh.
Superintendant James Baxter was speaking after three bomb alerts brought the town to a standstill on Monday night.
Speaking to the Herald, he said the bomb scares had to be taken seriously as it could ultimately be a matter of life and death.
Just after 4.30 pm police in Omagh received a telephoned warning from a male caller that a bomb had been left outside the Supervalu premises at High Street.
An immediate clearance operation got underway and Army Technical officers declared the call a hoax just after 5.20pm minutes later, another call was placed to the police claiming that a bomb had been left at Market Street the site of the Omagh atrocity in 1998. Again the area was evacuated and at 7.40 pm the scare was called off.
At the same time a male caller again reported a bomb being left 200 yards from a shop in Campsie.
Again police and army bomb experts cleared the area but it was declared safe hours later.
Speaking in the aftermath of Monday night's chaos, the Sub-Divisional Commander for the Omagh area, Superintendent James Baxter condemned the false alerts.
"Someone will know or already does know the caller. But we must take this seriously as we could be dealing with a matter of life and death".
The Superintendent said' he had been inundated with calls from traders and the customers that trading and life had been disrupted.
Omagh Chamber of Commerce President, Patrick Bogues said the bombscares are a symptom of the suspension of the Executive, and the uncertainty that has followed.
There has also been condemnation across the political divide.
The DUP's Oliver Gibson said the Omagh bomb alerts had brought home to the hearts of the community a reminder of the horror and devastation of August 15th.
He was also outraged at the 'callous and crass' bomb hoax at Craigavon Hospital on Tuesday.
"Terrorists have only one trait and that is to purvey terror and they have demonstrated their ability in that field again. These people cannot be treated as democrats."
And Joe Byrne, SDLP West Tyrone MLA, said he utterly condemned those behind the hoaxes.
The assembly man said it is very worrying at this time that someone would engage in hoaxes as a joke, when the real worry that people have is that a bomb could ensue.
"The people of Omagh and district are still suffering from the atrocity of 1998. They neither want bomb hoaxes or bombs again."
Mr Byrne said it is unacceptable that shop owners in Omagh and residents in Campsie are suffering inconvenience and disturbance at the hands of the hoax caller.
Ulster Unionist MLA, Derek Hussey condemned the hoax and all the others which have plagued the North over this past week.
Referring in particular to the Omagh hoaxes, Mr Hussey said "Those responsible are well aware of the pain and trauma rekindled within the whole community by such actions.
"Democrats express their desires through the ballot box without resource to violence or the threat of violence and such incidents further emphasise the need for also the materials of terror to be taken out of our society" said Mr Hussey.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1330
Published Date: 17-Feb-00
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