The Five Demands

Dissident bomb ‘detonated by mobile phone’ (BBC News Northern Ireland)

The bomb meant to kill or injure police officers on the outskirts of Belfast on Saturday may have been detonated by mobile telephone.

Officers were responding to a call on Duncrue pathway near the M5 motorway when the bomb partially exploded.

The BBC understands police are working on the basis that dissident Republicans were responsible for the attack.

This is believed to be the first time they have successfully used a mobile to detonate a device of this nature.

In the past dissidents have made other attempts to detonate bombs by mobile phone.

‘Fatalities’
Detective Chief Inspector Karen Baxter said the bomb was left in a place where officers or the public could have been killed.

“Had this device exploded as intended we would’ve had fatalities this morning,” she said.

“There was a significant degree of planning involved and this was a sophisticated device. The people that left this have been reckless with their intentions,” she said.

“They don’t care who they kill – but the target was very clearly officers.”

There had been two previous call-outs to police on Saturday alleging a crime had been committed in the area.

The area was sealed off for more than 24 hours as searches were carried out by police and bomb disposal experts.

Gun link to Newtownabbey bomb attack on police (BBC News Northern Ireland)

A gun found near a scenic walkway may be linked to a bomb attack on security forces on Saturday, police have said.

Officers were responding to a call on Duncrue pathway near the M5 motorway when the bomb partially exploded.

They are also investigating a call made from a public phone box outside shops at the junction of Antrim Road and Fortwilliam Road, north Belfast.

Police said the call, made at about 19:40 GMT on Saturday, may also be linked to the murder bid on officers.

Detective Chief Inspector Karen Baxter said: “As part of our follow-up inquiries, we now believe that the discovery of a suspected firearm on the towpath could be linked to the attack and I am very keen to speak to anyone who may have been in the area of the towpath before midday on Saturday.

“I would also urge anyone who was at the shops at the junction of Antrim Road and Fortwilliam Road on Saturday evening, in and around 7:40pm, to contact us.

“There is a takeaway restaurant, an off-licence, and a bank in this area so it would have been busy at this time.”