Newry Bomb

Tuesday 23 February 10

By Shauneen - Member of the Belfast WIMPS crew

A bomb estimated at up to 250lbs worth of explosives exploded outside a courthouse in Newry shortly after 10:30 last night. The police have said that the bomb exploded 17 minutes after a telephone alert which said the bomb would explode in 30 minutes. The courthouse is situated in an entertainment area of Newry populated with bars and restaurants, the main gates of the courthouse are left badly damaged.

The attack has been blamed on Dissident Republicans opposed to the Peace Process. The PSNI say they have been bracing for a reaction to the Hillsborough Agreement signed a few weeks ago. This attack comes a few days after an attempted mortar bomb attack in the village of Keady, just 20 miles away.

Chief Inspector Sam Cordiner of the PSNI said that it was "only by sheer miracle that nobody was killed or injured". Secretary of State for NI, Sean Woodward condemned the attack as an ‘act of senseless violence’ and said that it was “an appalling attack by a very small group of people who refuse to accept that peace is working in Northern Ireland.” Local Sinn Fein, SDLP and DUP MLAs condemned the attack whilst UUP assembly member Danny Kennedy said the attack was “proof of a deteriorating security situation in Northern Ireland.”

The centre of Newry could remain closed for a further two days as security operations continue.