The “Real IRA” admitted setting off a bomb near the largest MI5 – British secret service – army base outside of London.
The timing of the car bomb attack, in the early hours on Monday (local time), the day that police and justice powers were to be transferred to the Belfast parliament in Stormont from London, is thought to indicate an attempt to destabilize the accord, which keeps Northern Ireland as part of the United Kingdom.
Sien Fien, the political party that had been the voice of the IRA (Irish Republican Army) until the IRA was officially disbanded, condemned the blast. Martin McGuinness, Sinn Fein Deputy First Minister, insisted the peace process was “rock solid.”
Peter Robinson, First Minister of the Democratic Unionists (DU), was quick to denigrate the attack. DU has campaigned to keep Ulster, one of Northern Ireland’s four provinces, as part of the U.K.
U.K. Secretary of State Shaun Woodward said, “Today Northern Ireland will complete devolution with the transfer of policing and justice powers to Stormont.”
David Ford, who later in the day was elected Northern Ireland justice minister, said the bombing was a cynical attempt to intimidate politicians before the vote.
A taxi was hijacked and held for nearly three hours by the terrorists until he was forced to drive the bomb, in his cab, to the base near Holywood, County Down, U.K., just north of Belfast. The driver then informed the authorities.
The driver’s family was held hostage until he completed the task.
The area was evacuated and one person was slightly injured.
The timing of the car bomb attack, in the early hours on Monday (local time), the day that police and justice powers were to be transferred to the Belfast parliament in Stormont from London, is thought to indicate an attempt to destabilize the accord, which keeps Northern Ireland as part of the United Kingdom.
Sien Fien, the political party that had been the voice of the IRA (Irish Republican Army) until the IRA was officially disbanded, condemned the blast. Martin McGuinness, Sinn Fein Deputy First Minister, insisted the peace process was “rock solid.”
Peter Robinson, First Minister of the Democratic Unionists (DU), was quick to denigrate the attack. DU has campaigned to keep Ulster, one of Northern Ireland’s four provinces, as part of the U.K.
U.K. Secretary of State Shaun Woodward said, “Today Northern Ireland will complete devolution with the transfer of policing and justice powers to Stormont.”
David Ford, who later in the day was elected Northern Ireland justice minister, said the bombing was a cynical attempt to intimidate politicians before the vote.
A taxi was hijacked and held for nearly three hours by the terrorists until he was forced to drive the bomb, in his cab, to the base near Holywood, County Down, U.K., just north of Belfast. The driver then informed the authorities.
The driver’s family was held hostage until he completed the task.
The area was evacuated and one person was slightly injured.
