Residents of Northern Ireland’s Catholic community are cautioned to be on alert following the explosion of two pipe bombs outside homes in Cloughmills, Co Antrim and the discovery of a third hoax device left on a windowsill.
These incidents come following a series of attacks on Catholic churches and pubs all summer long across north Antrim.
Sean Farren, a Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) Assembly member for North Antrim, said he was disturbed by the incidents. He said, "Loyalist gangs are flexing their muscles all over North Antrim, most recently in a series of attacks on Catholic churches, but the use of pipe bombs may mean they are moving on to a new level of activity. Pipe bombs are made for one purpose only - to do murder."
UTV reports, the first device exploded in Cypress Park early today, showering a living room with glass. Less than an hour before the attack, another bomb detonated under a van parked in nearby Rosemount.
Inspector Nick McCaw said, "We are treating the incident at the house as attempted murder. Anybody would have been badly injured, if not killed, if they had been in that room when the device exploded."
SDLP’s Daithi McKay, said both families targeted by the pipe bombers today were attacked before. "They are adamant that they are not going anywhere," he said. "They have lived there all their lives and are not going to be intimidated or forced out of the village by a group of thugs.”
"I would appeal to nationalists and republicans in north Antrim to remain highly vigilant in the time ahead as it seems that unionist paramilitary gangs are intent on escalating their campaign," he added.
At the same time, Sinn Fein says six families had been ordered out of Ahoghill, another nearby village. Daily Ireland reports, the Police Services of Northern Ireland (PSNI) informed the six Catholic families that their lives would be in danger if they did not leave the area before the weekend. Speaking of the threats, Ballymena Sinn Féin councillor Monica Digney said she was “horrified” at the news. “These are the actions of bigoted cavemen and it’s up to the political leaders of unionism to bring them to heel,” she said.
Less then two ago, Protestant extremists attacked two Roman Catholic owned pubs and a Catholic family's home in the area while defacing two Catholic churches. No injuries were reported in what police called a wave of intimidation attacks in and around Ballymena, a mostly Protestant town northwest of Belfast. Catholic leaders appealed to the area's Protestant politicians to do more to challenge the extremists, who frequently threaten Catholic homes, businesses and churches in the area.
While all this was going on Republicans from across County Derry gathered yesterday to mark the 24th anniversary of the death of hunger striker Thomas McElwee. West Tyrone Sinn Fein assembly member Barry McElduff spoke at the grave in Bellaghy, Co Derry that Thomas McElwee shares with his first cousin and fellow hunger striker Francis Hughes.
“I believe that that the strength of republicans and the popular support they enjoy is largely the result of two waves of support — the hunger strike and the peace process. Both were responsible for injecting momentum into the republican movement,” he said.
He added, “I understand that people may feel disoriented and possibly feel a sense of loss at the IRA statement of July 28.
“I urge republicans to continue to develop a questioning culture but one that is rooted in activism,” he said.
“Sinn Féin’s goal is achieve a united Ireland and an Ireland of equals, and the challenge is to deliver that as soon as possible,” he said.
The actions of Loyalist extremists, as reported above, make the achievement of that goal a difficult one. Sources: UTV, Q97.5 (London, Ontario), Daily Ireland
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