FERMANAGH: UN’AZIONE DA MANUALE DELLA PSNI
Sarebbe stata un’azione da manuale della polizia a sventare il tentato omicidio a Garrison lo scorso sabato
Una squadra di poliziotti in borghese ha intrapreso un’azione da manuale che ha permesso di sventare il tentato omicidio di un agente residente a Garrison, dove sabato scorso ha avuto luogo una sparatoria tra forze di sicurezza e dissidenti.
All’operazione hanno partecipato agenti del PSNI Special Operations Branch ed è stata riportata anche la presenza di elementi dell’Army Special Reconnaissance Force.
Stando alla dichiarazioni del Dr. Graham Ellison, criminologo della Queen’s University, l’ex Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde alcuni mesi fa aveva affermato he un piccolo numero di ufficiali dell’esercito erano stati chiamati in aiuto per contrastare la minaccia dissidente, e non vi è notizia che se ne siano mai andati.
Paul Goggins, Ministro della Sicurezza, ha dichiarato: “Voglio congratularmi ancora una volta con la polizia per l’operazione straordinaria che ha effettuato in Garrison. Ora abbiamo cinque arresti, quattro da parte del Psni”. (tre le persone rilasciate oggi, ndr)
“C’è un solo posto per questi elementi dissidenti, essere portati in tribunale e mandati in prigione.”
Will Kerr, PSNI Assistant Chief Constable, ha puntualizzato che elemento fondamentale per gli investigatori, è la collaborazione della comunità. Solo in questo modo le forze di sicurezza possono portare a termine azioni come quella dello scorso week end.
Torna alla ribalta la discussione sull’abolizione della Full Time Reserve con i suoi 440 agenti; una decisione priva di senso secondo il presidente della Police Federation, Terry Spence. Dopo aver conferito con Matt Baggott, attuale Chief Constable della PSNI, Spence ha affermato: “ha detto che la sua decisione è stata presa e non l’avrebbe cambiata e che può reindirizzare le risorse interne del servizio sulla linea del fronte”.
‘Textbook operation’ foiled murder bid (NewsLetter)
A “TEXTBOOK operation” by undercover police foiled a weekend murder bid by dissident republicans, according to an expert.
Officers from the PSNI’s Special Operations Branch had been lying in wait on Saturday night as one shot was fired at police at Garrison and they returned fire. No-one was hurt, but five men were later arrested.
Three of the men arrested have since been released without charge.
There were reports that members of the Army’s Special Reconnaissance Force were also involved in the operation.
Mood in close-knit village one of shock and fear
The PSNI have refused to discuss the role or the make-up of the SOB.
But Dr Graham Ellison, a criminologist from Queen’s University, said the unit had grown out of the old Special Branch.
“The new SOB handles a wider remit than the old Special Branch, but it is all steered by MI5.”
He said in its infancy MI5 in Holywood had 90 PSNI officers seconded to help them with local intelligence gathering.
How the SOB acquired its information about the incident will remain a mystery, he said.
“It seems to have been a textbook operation but we will never know how it came to their knowledge.”
Another security specialist, who did not want to be named, said he suspected some Army involvement in the operation.
“I suspect Army surveillance officers were involved. Some months ago Hugh Orde said a small number had been drafted in to help counter the dissident threat and there has been no announcement that they have left.
“Also the Garda were on full alert across the border, given the rapid arrest. This was a well planned and successful operation.”
He added that information on the intended hit could have been gleaned in a combination of ways.
“Maybe the gang was infiltrated with informants, maybe the officer noticed strange activity outside his home, maybe local residents did and told the police, maybe the gangs’ phones were intercepted or maybe it was a combination of these. We will never know.
“The success of the operation will keep dissidents guessing as to who is talking and where the leak was.”
Also on Saturday night, dissident republicans failed in an attempt to attack the headquarters of the Policing Board with a 400lb bomb. It only partly detonated.
Security Minister Paul Goggins said: “I want to congratulate again the police for the tremendous operation that they carried out in Garrison. We now have five arrests, four by the PSNI.”
He added: “The people of Northern Ireland have moved on. They want peace, they want political progress and they are going to have it. The police will continue to bring these dissidents to justice.”
Mr Goggins said the threat from dissidents was “severe” and he was concerned there could be deaths and injuries.
“But I can tell you the police are doing a magnificent job. They have the resources to take on this dissident terrorist element, to bring them to justice.
We’ve seen tremendous results from their work over the weekend – that work will continue.
“There’s only one place for this dissident element and that’s to be brought into the courts and sent to prison where they belong.”
PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Will Kerr said: “This was a highly professional and successful policing operation over the weekend in Co Fermanagh, which prevented an attempt to murder a police officer who had just joined the police service.
“There are two really important facts we need to put across here – one, that there is a need for community information.
“It doesn’t matter whether it is information about the thugs who are breaking into older people’s homes or the small number of criminals who are trying to drag Northern Ireland back into the past, we need the community to come forward and tell us who’s involved.
“We need evidence to be able to arrest, charge and take them before the courts.”
Mr Kerr insisted the police had all the other resources they needed to do the job.
“We are very willing, we are resourced, we are capable and have shown over the weekend we will do that when we have the information to take forward.”
Last night Police Federation chairman Terry Spence said: “We are extremely worried about the security situation and met with the Chief Constable and his command team on Thursday of last week to express our ongoing grave concerns.
“They listened to our concerns about the PSNI struggling to deliver proper policing to the people of Northern Ireland as the service downsizes and there is an upsurge in terrorist activity.
“Against all this, we have the dispensing with of 440 full time reserve colleagues, and these officers have at the minimum 14 years experience. It seems to us nonsensical to go ahead with this phasing out in this climate.
“But he said his decision was made and he was not going to change it and that he can redirect resources from within the service to the front line. We remain to be convinced of that.”
The Five Demands 