Explosive device found by police in west Belfast

An explosive device was found by police investigating the attempt to murder three officers in West Belfast.

It was found yesterday in Dunmurry as the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) conducted follow up searches after a gun attack narrowly missed police attending a call for help.

Up to six shots were fired after police were lured to a bogus burglary in the Twinbrook area on the edge of west Belfast on Thursday.

Often where an attack has been made on police there is a secondary or additional means of attack in the same area

Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Karen Baxter said: “This latest development has unfortunately required a further evacuation of local residents. We apologise for any inconvenience, however our aim is to ensure the safety of police and the local community and to protect everyone. We would ask the public for their patience and understanding as this policing operation continues.”

The police said army technical officers had been called after officers conducting follow-up searches in the Foxes Glen area of Dunmurry yesterday in the afternoon discovered what is believed to be an explosive device.

According to the BBC, a dissident republican splinter group called Oglaigh na hEireann had claimed responsibility.

Police in Northern Ireland earlier defended their decision to pull out of the housing estate minutes after the officers were ambushed.

Detective Chief Inspector Baxter has denied claims the community had been left vulnerable and claimed the rapid withdrawal reduced the risk of a secondary attack.

Ms Baxter said: “Concerns have been expressed about the length of time it took police to return to the area after the shooting. Previous experience has indicated that on many occasions where an attack has been made on police there is often a secondary or additional means of attack in the same area.

“As a police presence after such an attack can in itself constitute or increase a risk to the community, on many occasions the decision is taken to reduce that risk by removing police officers from the immediate area.”

The gun attack is being treated as attempted murder by police.

No-one was injured but the three officers – two men and a woman who at one point had to take refuge behind bins – were left badly shaken. All three were back at work yesterday.

“We do not believe that the police withdrawal yesterday increased the risk to the community. We also believe that it did not adversely affect the police investigation,” added Ms Baxter.

A window on a car was smashed and residents dragged their children indoors following the attack at about 1pm. (AP)