DISSIDENT THREAT HIGHEST SINCE OMAGH BOMB
Dissident threat highest since Omagh bomb
BY MARK MCKELVEY
m.mckelvey@ulsterherald.com
THE PSNI has vowed to provide a "greater policing presence on the street" in response to the threat posed by dissident republicans which is believed to be the highest since the Omagh bombing in 1998.
Increased checkpoints on local roads are to be expected amid concerns that dissident republicans intend to step up violent attacks ahead of next week's Westminster election.
The recent car bomb attack outside a police station in Newtownhamilton followed numerous incidents across the North in the past few months, and police say they are determined to deliver a greater presence on the streets ahead of the election on May 6.
A police spokesperson told the Ulster Herald, "The current level of dissident republican threat is severe, and we take it extremely seriously.
"Recent incidents have not just been attacks on security forces establishments, but on entire communities.
"Those behind them are seeking to destroy rather than build, and we are determined we will not allow that to happen. One of the ways to counter this threat, particularly now as we strive for a better future, is to isolate the criminals involved from within their own communities," he said.
"The level of threat is always something we are conscious of, not just at election time - and notwithstanding the attention we must pay to it, we are determined that we will carry on delivering personal policing, with a greater policing presence on the street."
DUP parliamentary candidate and Policing Board member, Tom Buchanan MLA condemned the recent increase in dissident republican activity, and called on the Chief Constable to face down this threat with every resource he has at his disposal.
"Their actions must be stopped immediately before anymore are killed or injured," said Mr Buchanan. "These thugs offer nothing to our country and their actions are just an attempt to bring us back to the days of bloodshed on our streets.
"I call on the new justice minister to ensure that when these murderers are brought before the courts that they receive the stiffest and harshest of sentences and show to our community that such activities will not be tolerated by the police or the courts," he urged.
"We want to keep moving forward, not backward but we also want a country where the law is firmly upheld and where law breakers are brought to justice and are held accountable for their actions."
BY MARK MCKELVEY
m.mckelvey@ulsterherald.com
THE PSNI has vowed to provide a "greater policing presence on the street" in response to the threat posed by dissident republicans which is believed to be the highest since the Omagh bombing in 1998.
Increased checkpoints on local roads are to be expected amid concerns that dissident republicans intend to step up violent attacks ahead of next week's Westminster election.
The recent car bomb attack outside a police station in Newtownhamilton followed numerous incidents across the North in the past few months, and police say they are determined to deliver a greater presence on the streets ahead of the election on May 6.
A police spokesperson told the Ulster Herald, "The current level of dissident republican threat is severe, and we take it extremely seriously.
"Recent incidents have not just been attacks on security forces establishments, but on entire communities.
"Those behind them are seeking to destroy rather than build, and we are determined we will not allow that to happen. One of the ways to counter this threat, particularly now as we strive for a better future, is to isolate the criminals involved from within their own communities," he said.
"The level of threat is always something we are conscious of, not just at election time - and notwithstanding the attention we must pay to it, we are determined that we will carry on delivering personal policing, with a greater policing presence on the street."
DUP parliamentary candidate and Policing Board member, Tom Buchanan MLA condemned the recent increase in dissident republican activity, and called on the Chief Constable to face down this threat with every resource he has at his disposal.
"Their actions must be stopped immediately before anymore are killed or injured," said Mr Buchanan. "These thugs offer nothing to our country and their actions are just an attempt to bring us back to the days of bloodshed on our streets.
"I call on the new justice minister to ensure that when these murderers are brought before the courts that they receive the stiffest and harshest of sentences and show to our community that such activities will not be tolerated by the police or the courts," he urged.
"We want to keep moving forward, not backward but we also want a country where the law is firmly upheld and where law breakers are brought to justice and are held accountable for their actions."
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1999
Published Date: 29-Apr-10
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