The Five Demands

Esplosa autobomba vicino all’HQ del MI5 di Holywood, nel giorno della devolution. Nessun ferito

Attentato rivendicato dal Real IRA.
L’esplosione è avvenuto poco dopo la mezzanotte di oggi 12 aprile sul retro del Palace Barracks a Holywood, contea di Down.
I residenti delle abitazioni circostanti il luogo dell’attentato sono state evacuate poco prima della mezzanotte ed ospitate presso il vicino Redburn Community Centre.
La deflagrazione sembra sia voluta essere dimostrazione della ferma opposizione dei dissidenti al trasferimento ufficiale dei poteri di polizia e giustizia da Londra a Belfast. Devolution avvenuta da lì a pochi minuti, che ha segnato la fine di 38 anni di controllo della Whitehall.
Fonti di polizia hanno lasciato trapelare che l’auto utilizzata sia stato un taxi dirottato alle 21.50 circa del 11 aprile, dall’area di Ligoniel a North Belfast. L’autista è stato trattenuto in ostaggio da 3 uomini mascherati prima che gli fosse ordinato, dopo due ore, di condurre la macchina al Palace Barracks.
Questo il comunicato della PSNI, poco dopo l’attentato:
“Un dispositivo è esploso in un veicolo sul retro del Palace Barracks a Holywood.
“L’esplosione è avvenuta alle 12:24 circa di questa mattina”
“Non ci sono notizie di feriti gravi in questa fase. L’incidente è in corso.”
Due le esplosioni: prima la bomba, e poi una tanica di benzina che ha distrutto l’auto e danneggiato le proprietà nelle vicinanze.
Basil McCrea, membro UUP  e del Policing Board, ha dichiarato: “L’allarme è stato dato e poi è finito, ma è ovviamente un dispositivo significativo”.
“L’allarme è stato dato e gli allarmi di attacco è andato via, ma è ovviamente un dispositivo di significativo.
“Una persona, un uomo anziano, è stato allontanato sullo proprie gambe. Penso fosse solo un membro della comunità che si trovava a camminare nell’area. È andato in ospedale. Penso sia sotto shock”.
La messa in sicurezza dell’area interessata dall’attentato è tutt’ora in corso.
Il sovraintendente capo della PSNI Nigel Grimshaw, ha rivelato che la polizia non ha ricevuto alcuna telefonata di preavviso ed ha aggiunto: “Non c’è alcun dubbio nella mia mente che l’ordigno sia stato progettato per uccidere o ferire seriamente e questo è esattamente ciò che sarebbe successo, se non fosse stato per le azioni dei miei ufficiali, dei colleghi militari ed anchela comunità stessa che ha pienamente collaborato con noi. ”
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Real IRA admits NI MI5 base bomb (BBC News Northern Ireland)
The Real IRA has admitted it was behind a car bomb which exploded outside the army base which houses MI5’s Northern Ireland headquarters.
The blast came on the day that David Ford was elected as NI’s Justice Minister, the first local politician to hold the job in 38 years.
It happened at about 0020 BST outside Palace Barracks, in Holywood, County Down. Police said no warning was given.
The bomb went off as the surrounding area was being evacuated.
An elderly man walking near the barracks at the time was treated for minor injuries.
The bomb was placed in a taxi, which had been hijacked in the Ligoniel area of north Belfast, about seven miles from Holywood, at about 2150 BST.
The driver was held hostage by three men for about two hours before being told to drive his taxi to the barracks.
The vehicle was abandoned at the base just before midnight prompting police and security staff to evacuate the area. The bomb exploded about 20 minutes later as the evacuation was still taking place.
There were two explosions – first the bomb and then the petrol tank, destroying the car and damaging other property.
Mr Ford, the new justice minister, said the bombing was a cynical attempt to intimidate politicians ahead of Monday’s vote.
“Those who carried out last night’s attack will not be allowed to succeed in sowing dissension, distrust and disharmony,” he said.
Chief Constable Matt Baggott said the people responsible for such attacks would have to be locked up and put through the criminal justice system.
“My hope is that many people will be persuaded by their families and their communities that this is no longer the time for this, it’s gone, the war is over,” he said.
‘Significant explosion’
Chief Superintendent Nigel Grimshaw said the police had not received a telephoned warning about the attack.
He said the taxi used was destroyed in the “significant explosion”.
The senior officer visited the scene on Sunday night.
“I saw young children in the arms of mothers and fathers, where we had moved people into a local community centre – that’s the type of people who were affected by this totally callous act.
“There is no question in my mind that it was designed to kill or seriously injure and that’s exactly what would have happened, were it not for the actions of my officers, military colleagues and indeed the community themselves who co-operated fully with us.”
Up to 60 people were moved from their homes and spent the night in a community centre.
Most have been told they can return to their homes by 1900 BST, but those living closest to the base may have to wait longer.
The Housing Executive is making arrangements should any of them need accommodation for a second night.
The attack appears to have been timed to coincide with the transfer of policing and justice powers from London to Belfast.
Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward said this “democratic transition stands in stark contrast to the activity of a criminal few who will not accept the will of the majority of people of Northern Ireland”.
“They have no support anywhere,” he added.
ANALYSIS
Mark Simpson, BBC News Ireland Correspondent, Holywood The timing and location of the bombing were designed to try to create the biggest possible international headlines and the deepest political impact.
Planting the bomb three miles from Stormont, and outside the army base which houses the headquarters of MI5 in Northern Ireland, was deliberate.
And making it explode shortly after midnight, less than an hour after policing and justice powers were transferred from London to Belfast, was a key part of the potentially lethal plan.
On a day when a new political era is starting at Stormont, dissident republicans wanted to highlight one of the weaknesses of the peace process – the threat of further violence.
The truth is the police suspected something might happen this week.
The reality is that they were not able to stop it.
That will be food for thought for Stormont’s new justice minister.
In March, Northern Ireland Assembly members voted in favour of the transfer of policing and justice powers.
Out of the 105 votes cast in the Assembly, a total of 88 supported the move, with 17 Ulster Unionists voting against.
Disagreement on the timing of the devolution of the justice powers had threatened to collapse Northern Ireland’s power-sharing administration.
On Monday, Stormont assembly members voted to make David Ford, the leader of the cross-community Alliance Party the justice minister.
His department has taken over responsibility for many functions and agencies previously controlled by the London-based Northern Ireland Office.
As well as taking over responsibility for the police, the new ministry will oversee bodies like the Northern Ireland Prison Service, the prosecution service, the Probation Board and the forensic science service.
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