Dunmurry: Reward of £20k offered for police station bomb information

On Saturday, 25 April, a delivery driver was forced to hijack his own vehicle, into which a gas cylinder device had been fitted, and drive it to a police station located on the outskirts of Belfast. The vehicle was subsequently detonated outside the station, creating significant damage. This incident prompted an immediate police response, including setting up checkpoints on the roads surrounding the scene.

Authorities have charged a man, identified as 66-year-old Kieran Smyth from Beechmount Avenue in Belfast, with attempted murder as well as causing an explosion likely to endanger life or cause serious injury. Smyth appeared before Lisburn Magistrates’ Court on 2 May, where his defense solicitor maintained that the evidence available was insufficient to conclusively link him to most of the charges.

The police have indicated that they believe the New IRA, a dissident republican group, may be responsible for the attack. The explosion took place in a densely populated residential area, near family homes where several children were asleep at the time. Thanks to quick action by officers, some residents, including two babies, were evacuated to safety before the device exploded.

Det Insp Campbell from the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s terrorism investigation unit described the attack as “cowardly and senseless,” emphasizing the potential for deadly consequences. He urged anyone with information, regardless of how small it might seem, to come forward. Deputy Chief Constable Bobby Singleton also highlighted that no casualties occurred due to the prompt response of the police. A controlled explosion was later conducted to safely neutralize the bomb

Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More