[Article] NI security alerts sparks travel chaos

[Colm Moore]

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...reaking21.html

NI security alerts sparks travel chaos

Hundreds of rugby fans faced travel chaos today after a cross-border rail service from Belfast to Dublin was cancelled due to a dissident republican security alert.

The passengers had all booked a place on three sold-out “rugby special” trains laid on for the Ireland-Scotland Six Nations championship match at Croke Park tomorrow.

But operator Translink has pulled those Enterprise services after the line was closed at Newry, Co Down, today following reports of a suspect device on the line.

“It is unlikely that normal services will have resumed before tomorrow’s International Rugby Match in Dublin between Ireland and Scotland,” a company spokeswoman explained.

All tickets are being refunded and passengers are being advised to take one of the additional Translink bus services that are being put on to accommodate them.

The buses will leave from the Europa bus centre in Belfast throughout tomorrow.

Scheduled Enterprise train services will run as planned tomorrow, but with delays likely as a result of a bus substitution between Newry and Dundalk.

The Newry incident came as the Real IRA claimed responsibility for four alerts in Derry today, causing widespread disruption throughout the city.

A police spokesman later said the alerts in Derry had been cleared and the roads reopened.

Motorists were also warned to avoid Belfast city centre this afternoon after a number of other alerts were reported in the Malone Road, Mount St South, Sandyknowse Roundabout, Wandsworth Road areas. There was also an alert in a Ballymena shopping centre.

One of the alerts followed a report that two masked men boarded a bus in the Ladybrook Park area of Belfast this afternoon before threatening the driver and leaving a suspicious package on the vehicle. The ATO was tasked and house in the immediate area were evacuated as a precaution.

A police spokeswoman later declared the alerts a hoax.

[Colm Moore]

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...breaking5.html

Shots fired at police in Co Down

Police investigating a security alert near the Border came under gun attack but escaped injury, officers revealed today.

The railway line at Newry, Co Down, was closed on Friday following reports of a suspected bomb which was being blamed on dissident republicans.

But PSNI officers came under gun attack as they examined the scene at about 9.15pm last night.

The PSNI said there were no reports of injuries.

The alert on the track between Killeen and Meigh led to the closure of the Belfast to Dublin rail link on Friday after the suspected device was reported. The security scare caused travel chaos for rugby fans making their way to Dublin for Saturday’s Ireland v Scotland Six Nations match at Croke Park.

Dissident republican groups have been blamed for a series of security alerts over recent days that disrupted traffic in Belfast and Derry.

Yesterday, British army bomb experts carried out a controlled explosion after a viable device was found in

PSNI District Commander Superintendent Alisdair Robinson today condemned the Co Down gun attack.

“This attack was a cowardly attempt to kill police officers in the course of their duty as they investigate a suspicious object that may have the potential to kill or injure not only police but members of the local community,” he said.

“Police will continue to deliver a service to the community despite the threat from these criminal terrorists, but we must also be mindful of that threat.

“Officers will continue to look after the policing needs of all our people and will put in place whatever measures are necessary to take a robust stance against those who seem determined to disrupt and attack local communities.

“The people who carry out these senseless acts show a total disregard for their fellow man and are not part of the society within which the majority of people of Northern Ireland wish to live.

“I want to thank the local community for their patience and understanding as we investigate this current security alert. And I ask them for their continued support to enable us to efficiently and effectively alienate those who continue to be involved in terrorism and criminality.”

He appealed for anyone with information to contact police.

PA

[Colm Moore]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/n...nd/8578622.stm

Police fired on at railway alert

Shots have been fired at police officers investigating a security alert in County Down.

Security forces have been examining a suspicious object close to a railway line outside Newry since Friday.

District Commander Chief Superintendent Alisdair Robinson said the attack was "a cowardly attempt to kill police officers".

Sinn Fein MP for Newry and Armagh Conor Murphy said those who carried out the attack were "stuck in the past".

"These micro groups have disrupted the Dublin-Belfast railway line since Friday, inconveniencing business and leisure travellers alike," said Mr Murphy, who is also transport minister.

"They must know that they have no support in the community for this type of activity.

"Additionally, their unsuccessful attempts on the lives of PSNI officers who were attempting to return the railway line to operation is neither supported by myself or the vast majority of people in the locality."



'Senseless act'

No-one was hurt during the attack which happened at about 2115 GMT on Saturday.

Police have appealed for information.

Ch Supt Robinson thanked the local community for their patience as they investigated the alert.

"The people who carry out these senseless acts show a total disregard for their fellow man and are not part of the society within which the majority of people of Northern Ireland wish to live," he said.

"Officers will continue to look after the policing needs of all our people and will put in place whatever measures are necessary to take a robust stance against those who seem determined to disrupt and attack local communities."

[dowlingm]

I've never understood what the Provos or whoever had against the Dublin-Belfast line, given that it helps unify the country. You'd think the other crowd would have the bigger problem with it!

[ACustomer]

dowlingm: your trouble is that you are rational. Which means you will never understand how a the Irish mindset works at times.