The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) announced on April 19 their discovery of a 250 pound fertilizer bomb in a junkyard in Lurgan, County Armagh, Northern Ireland (Terrorist Incident forthcoming). Bomb disposal technicians were called to dismantle the device, which was “by its nature unstable.” Authorities suspect that the explosive device may have been intended as a car bomb. And, Superintendent Alan Todd indicated that “The device was being constructed for immediate use.”
Police came under riot attack on April 20 and 21 by presumed rogue republicans after discovering the bomb. Subsequent and unrelated rioting by unruly youth has also been reported in Lurgan in the days following the bomb’s discovery. Violent outbreaks, including vehicular hijackings, should be expected to continue, albeit separate from the bomb case.
Todd also said: “It’s a very worrying escalation, at a time when the community is trying to move forward, that there is still a small number of individuals intent on swimming against the tide of public opinion.” Four men were arrested under the Terrorism Act in connection to the discovery and can be held for up to seven days. Thus far, the intended target of the device is pure speculation. The location is near a private, luxury housing development and a rail line. Further, the development has numerous children, harkening to the 1998 bombing of Omagh ?the single worst attack in the conflict’s history?that drew wild backlash against the Real IRA for targeting children.
The discovery shatters whatever remaining sense of security and forward motion toward peace might have been left in the region. Superintendent Todd indicated that the device is “linked to dissident republican organizations.” Both the Independent Monitoring Commission and Scotland Yard have warned security officials that IRA splinter groups?the Real IRA and the Continuity IRA ?remained a viable threat and are jointly blamed for this discovery. These more formalized splinters along with more entrepreneurial cells have neither accepted the peace protocols nor agreed to decommission; hence, they should be treated as active dissident groups willing to continue their violent struggle.
This device may have been part of a heretofore poorly executed spate of attacks by republican dissidents that are against the peace process. Thus far, most have targeted police stations and army barracks, both traditional targets for the republicans. Just last week, armed republicans hijacked a liquor truck in the service of a foiled attack (Terrorist Incident and WAR Report). Prior to that, the CIRA planted devices at police stations Belfast and East Tyrone in February (Terrorist Incidents forthcoming). The groups have also denounced the Provisional IRA for their announcement of decommissioning; as such, the may too find themselves in the crosshairs of their former coterie. Sinn Fein, the political arm of the IRA, denounced the junkyard bomb. Quite rightly, Assemblyman John O’Dowd said,” These groups have little or no support within this community and they do not have a strategy to deliver Irish unity and independence?The discovery of this device has ensured disruption and inconvenience for local people and has caused anger within the community. The good people of the north of Ireland want to move away from the shadows of the conflict and dissident republicans must come on board and realize the days of guns and bombs are over” (source).