A 25-year-old new recruit to the Police Service of Northern Ireland has died after being caught up in a booby-trap car bomb. The device exploded under the vehicle outside the Catholic officer's home in Omagh, Co Tyrone, just before 4pm.
Sky's Northern Ireland correspondent Vicki Hawthorne said: "Police have confirmed that some kind of device exploded underneath the car.
"They say the vehicle belonged to a new recruit of the Police Service of Northern Ireland and that he was a Catholic officer."
Belfast journalist Eamonn Mallie said the officer had graduated from police college just three weeks ago.
He told Sky News: "Three weeks into his service, he is dead.
"I've been told by a local MP that this young officer, who was well-liked, went to a Christian school in Omagh, so he was very much connected in the community.
"Those who targeted him would have known where he was going to be. It is understood that the bomb went off as the officer moved towards the car. He died at the scene."
There has been widespread condemnation of the attack, north and south of the border.
Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams said: "I want to send my condolences to his family at this hugely traumatic time.
"Sinn Fein is determined that those responsible will not set back the progress of the peace and political process."
Meanwhile, Paul McKeever, of the Police Federation, described the attack as "absolutely despicable". Read More
No comments:
Post a Comment