Police believe a car bomb attack outside a Belfast police station, which aimed to kill officers, was carried out by the New IRA. The explosion occurred in Dunmurry, southwest of the Northern Irish capital, at approximately 10:50 PM on Saturday after a gas cylinder-type device was placed in a delivery driver's hijacked car and driven to the location.
Evacuations and Response
Two babies were among the residents evacuated when the car bomb detonated, sending debris across the street. Deputy Chief Constable Bobby Singleton of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) praised officers who courageously evacuated nearby homes, stating they placed themselves in harm's way to protect the community.
The PSNI's terrorism investigation unit has launched an attempted murder investigation. The incident follows a similar attempted bombing weeks earlier in Lurgan, where a device failed to explode outside a police station. The New IRA claimed responsibility for that attack.
Political Condemnation
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer condemned the attack on X, stating, 'I utterly condemn last night's attack on Dunmurry police station,' and vowed that those responsible would be brought to justice. Northern Ireland's First Minister Michelle O'Neill, from Sinn Fein, said the perpetrators 'speak for absolutely no one' and have no vision or support. Democratic Unionist Party leader Gavin Robinson called the incident 'deeply concerning' and urged the full force of the law against dissident republicans.
Background on Dissident Republicans
Dissident republican groups, including the New IRA, oppose the 1998 peace deal that largely ended the Troubles. The New IRA is the largest such group and has carried out multiple attacks against the British Army and PSNI, including the murder of journalist Lyra McKee in 2019 and the attempted murder of Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell in 2023.
Investigators are keeping an open mind but note similarities between the Dunmurry and Lurgan incidents, suggesting the New IRA's involvement. Singleton emphasized that the attack demonstrates the continued murderous intent and capability of paramilitaries in Northern Ireland.
