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18/10/2001
Ongoing north Belfast violence investigated
The RUC are investigating the cause of an explosion at the back of a house in Alliance Avenue in north Belfast.
The explosion, which was reported at about 3.10pm on Wednesday October 17, severely damaged the back of a Catholic home in the flashpoint Alliance Avenue area.
The explosion took place at the same time as parents from the nearby Holy Cross primary school were taking their children home.
A police spokesperson has said that Wednesday night’s incident was being investigated, as was every incident that has taken place recently in north Belfast. He also maintained that the required police presence at Holy Cross Primary School and at flashpoint areas of north Belfast during the night were placing additional strain on police sources that could be used more productively elsewhere. He said: “Everybody suffers in this violence. Innocent people particularly are victimised. But what is important is that the police, who have acted as a buffer between the two rivalling factions, cannot solve society’s problems. The community has to do that for themselves.”
Reacting to the news SDLP assembly member for north Belfast Alban Maginness has maintained that it was only good fortune that no one was seriously injured or killed. He said: “While there appear to be no injuries, the back of the house was severely damaged and it is clear there could have been a loss of life. This latest incident in north Belfast follows a night of violence during which there were a number of pipe bomb explosions. The ongoing violence in north Belfast is continuing to cause fear and anxiety in the local community. It is clear that this explosion was aimed to cause maximum destruction and injury.”
North Belfast Sinn Féin councillor Margaret McClenaghan has said the latest “designed to kill” incident was the work of the UDA. She said: “I have absolutely no doubt that the UDA were behind this attack and that it was intended to kill the occupants of the house. That this attack on a home in which a number of children are resident has happened at the same time and in the same area that parents and children were returning from Holy Cross Primary School shows the clear link between the UDA campaign and the ongoing loyalist blockade.” (AMcE)
The explosion, which was reported at about 3.10pm on Wednesday October 17, severely damaged the back of a Catholic home in the flashpoint Alliance Avenue area.
The explosion took place at the same time as parents from the nearby Holy Cross primary school were taking their children home.
A police spokesperson has said that Wednesday night’s incident was being investigated, as was every incident that has taken place recently in north Belfast. He also maintained that the required police presence at Holy Cross Primary School and at flashpoint areas of north Belfast during the night were placing additional strain on police sources that could be used more productively elsewhere. He said: “Everybody suffers in this violence. Innocent people particularly are victimised. But what is important is that the police, who have acted as a buffer between the two rivalling factions, cannot solve society’s problems. The community has to do that for themselves.”
Reacting to the news SDLP assembly member for north Belfast Alban Maginness has maintained that it was only good fortune that no one was seriously injured or killed. He said: “While there appear to be no injuries, the back of the house was severely damaged and it is clear there could have been a loss of life. This latest incident in north Belfast follows a night of violence during which there were a number of pipe bomb explosions. The ongoing violence in north Belfast is continuing to cause fear and anxiety in the local community. It is clear that this explosion was aimed to cause maximum destruction and injury.”
North Belfast Sinn Féin councillor Margaret McClenaghan has said the latest “designed to kill” incident was the work of the UDA. She said: “I have absolutely no doubt that the UDA were behind this attack and that it was intended to kill the occupants of the house. That this attack on a home in which a number of children are resident has happened at the same time and in the same area that parents and children were returning from Holy Cross Primary School shows the clear link between the UDA campaign and the ongoing loyalist blockade.” (AMcE)
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