The Five Demands

Police shots ‘dissident murder bid’ (UTV)

It is believed the dissident grouping Óglaigh na hÉireann was behind what has been described as an “attempt to kill police” in west Belfast.

A shot hit a PSNI vehicle in the area known as the turning circle at the top of the Glen Road at around 4am on Friday – but details have only now emerged.

It is understood officers were on routine patrol at the time.

No-one was hurt and their Landrover was just slightly damaged, but the attack is being viewed by police as a “potentially murderous”.

Officers have been following a number of lines of inquiry and would not be drawn on who they think is responsible.

However it is believed that the dissident grouping Óglaigh na hÉireann carried out the shooting, and launched a mortar as well as opening fire.

“There have been a number of attacks carried out in this area,” local Sinn Féin representative Paul Maskey told UTV.

“But the fact is the vast majority of people in the community are opposed to this and want these people to go away.”

This incident is not the first time officers have been targeted by Óglaigh na hÉireann in the area and attacks have been becoming more frequent.

Last month a bomb exploded as officers responded to a call for help in Winn Park in nearby Twinbrook in the early hours

A grenade was also thrown at police in Dunmurry.

A loud bang was heard in the Barnfield Road area.

The latest attack came on the day after dissident a number of dissident groups including RAAD and the Real IRA announced they would be joining together to form a ‘new IRA’.

However it is understood Óglaigh na hÉireann is not part that faction.

The DUP‘s William Humphrey said: “It is utterly abhorrent that there was this attempt to kill police officers in West Belfast.

“Those responsible for this reckless gunfire also endangered the lives of local residents. Such murderous attacks must be totally condemned by all right-thinking people.”

Police have appealed for anyone with more information on the attack to get in touch.

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