Landmine attack in Fermanagh

Members of the British Crown forces were lucky to escape with only minor injuries following a roadside landmine attack in County Fermanagh at the weekend.

The Continuity IRA said they were behind the attack near the village of Roslea, not far from the border with the 26 Counties.

A passing PSNI patrol was the target of the the device, triggered by the use of a command-wire at a bridge on the Rellan Road.

Two PSNI members were slightly injured in the attack, which is similar to previous incidents in the area. Local PSNI chief Michael Skuce said the device had not fully exploded and its members had been “very, very lucky” to have avoided serious injury.

“I will be reviewing security in the light of this because land mines on country roads are a serious threat,” he said.

“However I do not want to give too much credibility to a criminal element.”

In November 2006 another landmine was abandoned on the nearby Clough Road, while earlier this month there was a hoax bomb alert at the main Newtownbutler to Lisnaskea road.

RIRA SHOOTING

Meanwhile, the Real IRA have claimed responsibility for a gun attack on an alleged drug dealer in Derry as he sat in his car on Thursday night last week.

In a statement, the Real IRA said its Volunteers had been instructed to “execute” the man in question, but that due to the presence of a female passenger in his car “he avoided certain death”.

They also issued a warning to the man that he had ‘48 hours to get out of the city’ or else ‘Volunteers will be instructed to shoot this man dead on sight.’

Three other men have been ordered out of Derry by the Real IRA, including an alleged sex offender.

The statement added:

“Oglaigh na h-Eireann is in possession of a list of other known drug dealers who operate in Derry, these people are advised to contact the Republican Movement immediately or face a similar fate.

“We call on the nationalist community not to be taken in by politicians who call on collaboration with crown forces. We are stern in our intention to wipe out drug networks in this city. Anyone caught supplying information to the crown forces will be treated as informers.”

* A member of the PSNI in Derry has been found guilty of drug-dealing, it emerged today. PSNI Chief Hugh Orde said that drug-dealing “can’t be accepted” and the officer involved had received a “disciplinary letter”.

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