A car bomb has exploded outside a Belfast police station in a suspected “New IRA” attack.
The explosion occurred in Dunmurry, southwest of Belfast, outside a police station late on Saturday night, with reports of a loud band at around 11.30pm.
An attempted murder investigation has been launched, spearheaded by a terrorism unit, Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) have confirmed.
A delivery driver was hijacked at gunpoint in the Twinbrook area of west Belfast shortly before 11pm, with attackers placing a gas cylinder-type device in the boot of his vehicle before ordering him to drive it to Dunmurry police station.
Deputy Chief Constable Bobby Singleton described how officers immediately ran into danger to protect the public, calling their actions as “extremely courageous”.
He said: “Police personnel immediately, and I have to say, extremely courageously – literally running into danger, placing themselves in harm’s way – evacuated nearby homes in order to protect the community.”
Two babies were among the residents being taken to safety by officers when the device detonated, engulfing the vehicle in flames and sending debris in all directions.
Deputy Chief Constable Singleton said: “This clearly demonstrates what this type of device may have lacked in terms of its sophistication and scale, it more than made up for in its reckless unpredictability.
Video of the car bomb that erupted outside the Dunmurry police station on Saturday night
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“For a device like this to have been deployed against police and in such close proximity to the public was idiotic. It was absolute madness.”
Mr Singleton said his thoughts were with the delivery driver, for whom the experience would have been “extremely traumatic”, as well as the residents, many of whom remained unable to return to their homes today.
He said: “Our thoughts are very much with our courageous officers and their families who, whilst they will be grateful that their loved ones are safe, will doubtless have been left shaken by the experience.”
No injuries were reported, although the chairman of the Northern Ireland Policing Board Brendan Mullan described it as a miracle no one was killed or seriously hurt.
Forensic investigators at the scene in Dunmurry in Northern Ireland
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He said: “It is a miracle no-one was seriously injured. This is the second incident at a police station in recent weeks which is depressing. Such acts of violence have no place in a society committed to peace.”
Forensic officers in white suits were seen examining the burnt-out wreckage of the car in the early hours of Sunday morning.
A large cordon remained in place around the Dunmurry area, with a further policing operation launched in the Twinbrook estate in west Belfast.
Mr Mullan condemned those responsible, saying: “This explosive device was sent to kill officers and cause maximum harm in an attack which was in the heart of a residential area.
“Those responsible had callous disregard for people living close to the station and who so easily could have been caught up in this explosion.”
He added this is the second incident at a police station in recent weeks, describing it as “depressing” and that acts of violence have “no place in a society committed to peace”.
Suspicion has fallen on dissident republican groups, as this comes just weeks after the New IRA admitted responsibility for an attempted bomb attack at a PSNI station in Lurgan, southwest of Belfast.
Similar to this attack, a pizza delivery driver was hijacked and ordered to drive a device to a police station.
Northern Irish and Irish politicians have expressed their concern and condemnation for the attack, The Belfast Telegraph reports.
First Minister Michelle O’Neill said: “Those behind last night’s attack in Dunmurry speak for absolutely no one. They have no vision, no support and have nothing to offer our society. Our communities deserve peace.”
Secretary of State Hilary Benn described the attack as “a shameless and cowardly attack on the brave men and women who work so hard to keep our communities safe in Northern Ireland”.
DUP leader Gavin Robinson weighed in to express his condemnation: “For too long there has been an assumption that these groups had been broken and rendered incapable. Incidents like this are a reminder that the threat remains real and demands constant vigilance.”
Sinn Féin MP Paul Maskey said those involved “represent no one” and had “nothing to offer our society.”
Mr Mullan urged anyone with information to contact police on 101 or report it anonymously through Crimestoppers.
The PSNI said a full investigation was underway.