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25/06/2010
Deadly Roadside Bomb Defused
Firemen risked their lives at the weekend dealing with a grass fire - unaware that a primed 160lb bomb had been concealed in a beer keg and had been planted in a nearby field. Police believe it was planted near Keady in Co Armagh on Saturday night and a fire started in the area later as an attempt to lure officers into an ambush.
It remained there for days afterwards until the deadly device was spotted, on the Castleblaney Road, by a farmer tending livestock on Tuesday.
PSNI Chief Inspector Ken Mawhinney said it was a calculated and determined effort by dissident republicans to kill police officers.
"These criminals have no role to play in this community and have absolutely no support from the ordinary decent people living here in Northern Ireland," he said.
"We will continue to take a robust stance against all dissident republican terrorist activity.
"We are confident that every right minded member of society will continue to work with us and to give us the information we need to put these people out of business once and for all and in doing so, make Northern Ireland a safer place."
It is understood the bomb was discovered after the spot where it was hidden was disturbed by sheep.
Police cordoned off a five-mile stretch of road after the beer keg was found on Tuesday.
The bomb was found close to the main road between Keady and Castleblaney and police have said if it had gone off prematurely it could have killed anyone passing by.
Police did not attend the fire started on Sunday evening as they believed it was an attempt to lure them into a trap.
The Acting Chairman of the NI Policing Board has sicne condemned the bomb left in Keady.
Brian Rea said: "The police have made clear that the purpose of this bomb was to lure police into the area and this must be condemned unreservedly.
"The people of Keady have once again been put at risk by the indiscriminate actions of a few who have no regard for human life.
"Many people have been seriously inconvenienced as police try to deal with this incident and police without doubt need the support and understanding of the community at this time and I would urge anyone with information to bring it to police."
See: Armagh Bomb Alert 'Ongoing'
(BMcC/GK)
It remained there for days afterwards until the deadly device was spotted, on the Castleblaney Road, by a farmer tending livestock on Tuesday.
PSNI Chief Inspector Ken Mawhinney said it was a calculated and determined effort by dissident republicans to kill police officers.
"These criminals have no role to play in this community and have absolutely no support from the ordinary decent people living here in Northern Ireland," he said.
"We will continue to take a robust stance against all dissident republican terrorist activity.
"We are confident that every right minded member of society will continue to work with us and to give us the information we need to put these people out of business once and for all and in doing so, make Northern Ireland a safer place."
It is understood the bomb was discovered after the spot where it was hidden was disturbed by sheep.
Police cordoned off a five-mile stretch of road after the beer keg was found on Tuesday.
The bomb was found close to the main road between Keady and Castleblaney and police have said if it had gone off prematurely it could have killed anyone passing by.
Police did not attend the fire started on Sunday evening as they believed it was an attempt to lure them into a trap.
The Acting Chairman of the NI Policing Board has sicne condemned the bomb left in Keady.
Brian Rea said: "The police have made clear that the purpose of this bomb was to lure police into the area and this must be condemned unreservedly.
"The people of Keady have once again been put at risk by the indiscriminate actions of a few who have no regard for human life.
"Many people have been seriously inconvenienced as police try to deal with this incident and police without doubt need the support and understanding of the community at this time and I would urge anyone with information to bring it to police."
See: Armagh Bomb Alert 'Ongoing'
(BMcC/GK)
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