Posted on 04/02/2011 10:25:45 AM PDT by decimon
A 25-year-old police officer has been killed after a bomb exploded under his car in Omagh, County Tyrone.
The device exploded under the vehicle outside his home in Highfield Close, off the Gortin Road, just before 1600 BST on Saturday.
He is the second policeman to be killed since PSNI was formed out of the RUC.
Since 2007, dissident republicans have planted dozens of booby-trap bombs under the private cars of police officers.
The bombs have failed to detonate, but two policemen lost their legs in attacks in May 2008 and January 2010.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.co.uk ...
Bastards!
“The bombs have failed to detonate, but two policemen lost their legs in attacks in May 2008 and January 2010.”
Doesn’t sound like it.
The poor guy was probably targeted because he was a Roman Catholic.
rira’s old killing field.
That’s an interesting comment, Donn1899.
What does a “Roman Catholic” policeman look like?
To be more specific, how would one know what religion the police officer was?
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/semtex/index
#
“Omagh bomb ‘may have used Semtex from Libya’”
SNIPPET: “Police are investigating whether the bomb that killed a police officer in Northern Ireland was made using explosives supplied to the IRA by Col Gaddafi’s regime in Libya.”
By Mark Hughes, Christopher Hope and Duncan Gardham 10:38PM BST 03 Apr 2011
SNIPPET: “Pc Ronan Kerr died following the explosion in Omagh on Saturday afternoon. Detectives are trying to establish whether the car bomb was made using Semtex – a plastic explosive that the IRA sourced from Libya in large quantities in the 1980s.
The potential link prompted urgent questions from Conservative MPs about the role of Libya’s foreign minister, Moussa Koussa, in arming the IRA.
Yesterday it emerged that Mr Koussa – who fled to Britain from Libya last week – has been named in US court documents as one of the men who oversaw the regime’s supply of Semtex to the IRA.”
“Police Search Car Bomb Scene As Leaders Meet”
April 4, 2011 9:22 am
“That’s an interesting comment, Donn1899.
What does a “Roman Catholic” policeman look like?
To be more specific, how would one know what religion the police officer was?”
It’s one of the major news stories.
The British PM, Northern Ireland FM and deputy FM, The Chief of Police and his Mother have stated that he was targeted because he was a new recruit Roman Catholic Police Officer.
The dissident republicans who targeted him would themselves be Roman Catholics. They don’t want any peace.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-12956474
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-12947646
Thanks for those links. Do you have a link stating he was targeted because he was Catholic? If not, I’ll see if I can find one today and add it here.
Thanks for your feedback.
No need to look — I found one.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=135109879
“Leaders Decry IRA Dissidents’ `War Against Peace’”
by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
SNIPPET: “Irish Republican Army dissidents responsible for killing a new Catholic police recruit in Northern Ireland are waging a pointless “war against peace” that will only unify the community, Northern Ireland’s security and political leaders vowed Monday.
Police commander Matt Baggott and the leaders of Northern Ireland’s unity government stood side by side at the government headquarters in Belfast to declare that Saturday’s killing of Constable Ronan Kerr would not deter Catholics from joining the police.”
NOTE The following text is a quote:
www.psni.police.uk/index/updates/appeals-for-information-2011/murder-of-constable-ronan-kerr.htm
Murder of Constable Ronan Kerr
Monday 4 April 2011
The officer leading the investigation into the murder of Ronan Kerr has given details of the bomb which killed the 25 year old Constable last Saturday.
Detective Superintendent Raymond Murray said he was making some details available in the hope that it would encourage the local community to come forward with information about those who planted the device.
The bomb was an Under Vehicle Improvised Explosive Device (UVIED) which was packed into a grey plastic box and fitted with a timer. The timer was used to allow the person who planted it enough time to make good their escape before the device was activated. Similar devices have been used in previous attacks.
The device is estimated to have contained up to 500g of high explosives and was most likely triggered by a tilt switch. It was detonated as Constable Kerr got into his car just before 4pm on Saturday afternoon to go to work.
D/Supt Murray said: “This is part of our initial assessment at the scene and from some of the parts of the device which we have recovered. A detailed forensic examination is already underway which we hope will provide us with a fuller assessment of the device.”
Detectives believe the device was planted some time between teatime on Thursday and Saturday afternoon. They have a specific appeal to residents in the Highfield development where Ronan Kerr lived.
D/Supt Murray said: “The key to success in this investigation lies in the detail. And it lies in the Highfield development where Ronan lived. We need to establish the timeframe during which the bomb could have been planted at Highfield Close. To do this accurately, we need to establish everything that happened in the Highfield development since teatime on Thursday.
“Police need to chart all movements in and out of the development and identify those who made them. That includes residents going in and out, on foot, on a bike, in a car, van or lorry. It also includes delivery drivers, workmen, postmen and staff from utilities companies.
“We need a complete picture of every single movement into, out of and around the Highfield development between teatime on Thursday and Saturday at 4pm. We are working to create a minute-by-minute picture of activity in Highfield. Somewhere in that picture is the bomber. We need the community’s help to identify the killer and their accomplices.
“We have been heartened by the messages of condemnation and sympathy which have been expressed right across the community and around the world. They will further strengthen our resolve to apprehend those responsible but the most important assistance the community can provide today is information. We need information to make significant progress.”
Police have set up a special phone line for residents to make contact with detectives. It is 8225 6659. Alternatively, callers can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
D/Supt Murray said he wanted to add his voice to the universal expressions of condemnation and sympathy made over the past few days. He said he had been struck by the words of Ronan’s mother, Nuala, who he visited and who spoke of the need for people to stand up and be counted.
D/Supt Murray said: “I think those are all words that we all have to listen to very, very carefully. I want to give people an opportunity to stand up and be counted. The question that we have to ask ourselves as police and community together is can we find these people and catch them and can we stop them from doing this again. We can if we work together and people provide us with information.”
But our preference is for you to talk to us directly, whether you live in the Highfield area or whether you have information about Ronan’s movements last Friday and Saturday. The number to call is 8225 6659.
“Police Question N Ireland Bombing Suspect”
5:55am UK, Thursday April 07, 2011
SNIPPET: “The 26-year-old was detained in Scotland on Wednesday after the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) discovered a sizeable arms cache in County Tyrone.”
SNIPPET: “It is believed he was targeted by dissident republican terrorists - who oppose the country’s peace process - because he was a Catholic officer.”
SNIPPET: “The suspect was believed to be working in Renton, Dunbartonshire when he was arrested. He was taken to the high security prison in Govan, Glasgow before being transferred to Northern Ireland.”
Yes. Thanks.
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Article/201009115969079
“Van Bomb ‘Destined For NI Town Centre’”
5:39pm UK, Saturday April 09, 2011
SNIPPET: “A van bomb containing a wheelie bin packed with 500lbs of explosives could have been destined for a town centre in Northern Ireland.
The vehicle was found abandoned near the Irish border near Newry.
A number of controlled explosions were carried out on the van after which officers confirmed a viable device had been found.
Northern Ireland Policing Board member Jonathan Bell compared the failed attack to the infamous republican bomb attack in Omagh in August 1998 which killed 29 people.”
SNIPPET: “The incident comes as detectives continue to question three men over the murder of constable Ronan Kerr.”
UPDATE:
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Article/201009115977226
“Man Charged After PC Ronan Kerr Murder”
10:16am UK, Friday April 22, 2011
SNIPPET: “The suspect, 33, is accused of possession of firearms and explosives with the intent to endanger life and possession of articles likely to be of use in terrorism.”
SNIPPET: “This is the first charge made in the case.
Two other suspects were released earlier this week.”
Aw, jeez, not this s**t again.
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