BBC reports:

Police officers have escaped injury in a bomb explosion in County Fermanagh.

The explosion happened at Wattle Bridge, near Newtownbutler, during a security operation launched after a warning was received.

Meanwhile, yesterday…

County Fermanagh: Police escape injury in bomb attack (BBC Northern Ireland)

Pic: Google Maps

UPDATE:


A statement issued by the PSNI from Deputy Chief Constable Stephen Martin states:

Police at the scene of an ongoing security operation in Newtownbutler can confirm that some form of explosive device has detonated in the area.

Deputy Chief Constable Stephen Martin  said: “At around 10.35am this morning Police officers at the scene have reported an explosion in the area of the Cavan Road at its junction with the Wattlebridge Road.  There are no reports of any injuries and officers are investigating the cause of the explosion.

“Police had received a report that a suspect device had been left in the area of Wattle Bridge on Saturday evening.  The area was secured by police and a full clearance operation began on Sunday morning.

The initial report received by police indicated that a device had been left on the Wattlebridge Road however the explosion occurred on the main A3 Cavan Road.

“While this investigation is at a very early stage I am of the firm belief this was a deliberate attempt to lure police and ATO colleagues into the area to murder them.

“Although this device was intended to kill police and army personnel the fact that it was placed on a main road the result could well have been devastating for anyone in the immediate vicinity.

“This attack was indiscriminate and reckless and, whilst there is no doubt in my mind that police responding to this call were the target, the reality is that anyone could have been caught up in the explosion.

“We are extremely fortunate that the actions of officers who were first on scene meant that there was not serious injury or death. I wish to acknowledge and commend the bravery and commitment of those officers and army personnel at the scene of this attack.

“I would like to again thank the community for their patience and cooperation throughout the security operation as we seek to ensure their safety.

The area around the scene will remain closed for some time while our officers conduct their investigations and ensure the area is safe.

“I ask that anyone who may be able to help our investigation and identify the perpetrators of this sinister and potentially murderous attack to please come forward.

You can call us on 101 or if you would prefer information can be given anonymously via the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

Statement from Deputy Chief Constable Stephen Martin about explosion in Newtownbutler (PSNI)

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30 thoughts on “In Fermanagh

  1. eoin

    Wattle Bridge – 1,180 metres from the border which the Tories are going to re-establish in a no-deal Brexit.

  2. Spaghetti Hoop

    Jesus, and I was going to head up there in me boat before the summer ended. Here we go again as the fella said.

    1. shayna

      There’s not a great history of the IRA blowing up boats – yikes,I forgot about Mullaghmore. I think you have to have been a former Rear Admiral in The Royal Navy to have your boat targetted.

  3. eoin

    From the Sunday Times yesterday which reports the British “Yellowhammer” planning for no-deal Brexit, a plan which the Times says was prepared “this month” [that is, less than three weeks ago] and which the Times is adamant is NOT the worst case scenario but the most likely scenario.

    “But the contingency planning for no-deal prepared by his own government suggests that a hard border is all but inevitable, leading to “direct action” and road blockades…although measures will be introduced to “avoid an immediate risk of a return to a hard border on the UK side”, this is “likely to prove unsustainable because of significant economic, legal and biosecurity risks and no effective mitigations to address this will be available”…The Sunday Times can also reveal that the government’s planning assumption is to expect the return of a hard border and has changed since Johnson entered Downing Street…An earlier version of the document, seen by this newspaper, claimed that the UK’s “unilateral policy seeks to avoid a hard border”. However, that commitment was removed in the latest version of the document published this month.”

    1. Cian

      hopefully the British army will be needed on the ‘mainland’ to quell the riots and help protect their dwindling food supplies rather than being deployed into the 6 counties…

      1. martco

        “British army will be needed on the ‘mainland’ ”

        I had wondered if there’s a wee bit of War Economy calculation here…and maybe they’d like a bit of chaos & martial law going on? if nothing else shur it would be useful for hiding bigger problems, innit?

        – shrug –

      2. Spaghetti Hoop

        Will they recruit more, or call troops home do you think? I know there are plenty of drama queens when it comes to post-Brexit Britain but I really do predict a riot.

  4. Optimus Grime

    The Boom Boom Boys are back in town………Here’s hoping this messing does not start again

      1. Charlie

        Nope. The republican scrotes just dyin for an excuse to get out of the house and go scrotin’.

  5. postmanpat

    aaaaannnnndddd they’re off! ..Better cancel that annual Christmas shopping trip in Newry unless you want to lose a limb or face to an exploding bin.

  6. Terry

    Yes. And if mary Lou cannot control thugs from the republican community questions must be raised in the matter of are they relevent

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