jjcollins
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Aug 26, 1999
- Messages
- 1,394
Belfast bomb suspects rounded up
Police in Northern Ireland have arrested at least 20 people in connection with the La Mon restaurant bomb.
Yesterday's blast killed 12 people - including children - and injured 30 others.
The blast was the second worst since the present wave of troubles began in 1969.
Only six of the bodies have been formally identified after the petrol bomb exploded in the La Mon House entertainment complex at 2100GMT, in a usually peaceful area of County Down, 14 miles from Belfast.
None of the people detained after police and army raids has been officially named and the round-up operation continues.
A police statement described the people they picked up as "suspected of being active in IRA terrorist activities and their numbers include members believed to be prominent in the command structure of the IRA."
The IRA has not admitted involvement in the bombing, but a spokesman for its political wing Sinn Fein revealed nine of their members had been arrested, including executive member Gerry Adams.
Remnants of the bomb timer and two petrol cans have been recovered and forensic experts suggest it is a new kind of device involving a small explosion that throws out a massive flame.
The bomb had been taped to the window of the Peacock Room, where all the casualties were found.
The victims were all Protestants and included 45 members of the Irish Collie Club and the Northern Ireland Junior Motor Cycle Club.
A total of 450 people were forced to flee from elsewhere in the highly flammable plastic and wooden hotel structure.
Northern Ireland Secretary Roy Mason - who flew back to the UK hours before the explosion - said it was "an act of criminal irresponsibility" carried out by "remnants of IRA gangs".
Before leaving Mr Mason made a speech to an Alliance Party delegation about the decreasing terrorist activities of the Provisional IRA.
Many Loyalist activists and politicians blame his complacent attitude for the attack.
The Fire Station i use to serve in was called to this mass murder scene - and from what former firefighters have told me - its something you'd never want to attend
as a firefighter - victims were burned beyond recognition and some of the victims were burnt alive and i mean alive
And just one thought - look were Mr Adams ( Sinn Fein - IRA ) is today right in the Heart of Government - it makes me sick
jj......
Police in Northern Ireland have arrested at least 20 people in connection with the La Mon restaurant bomb.
Yesterday's blast killed 12 people - including children - and injured 30 others.
The blast was the second worst since the present wave of troubles began in 1969.
Only six of the bodies have been formally identified after the petrol bomb exploded in the La Mon House entertainment complex at 2100GMT, in a usually peaceful area of County Down, 14 miles from Belfast.
None of the people detained after police and army raids has been officially named and the round-up operation continues.
A police statement described the people they picked up as "suspected of being active in IRA terrorist activities and their numbers include members believed to be prominent in the command structure of the IRA."
The IRA has not admitted involvement in the bombing, but a spokesman for its political wing Sinn Fein revealed nine of their members had been arrested, including executive member Gerry Adams.
Remnants of the bomb timer and two petrol cans have been recovered and forensic experts suggest it is a new kind of device involving a small explosion that throws out a massive flame.
The bomb had been taped to the window of the Peacock Room, where all the casualties were found.
The victims were all Protestants and included 45 members of the Irish Collie Club and the Northern Ireland Junior Motor Cycle Club.
A total of 450 people were forced to flee from elsewhere in the highly flammable plastic and wooden hotel structure.
Northern Ireland Secretary Roy Mason - who flew back to the UK hours before the explosion - said it was "an act of criminal irresponsibility" carried out by "remnants of IRA gangs".
Before leaving Mr Mason made a speech to an Alliance Party delegation about the decreasing terrorist activities of the Provisional IRA.
Many Loyalist activists and politicians blame his complacent attitude for the attack.
The Fire Station i use to serve in was called to this mass murder scene - and from what former firefighters have told me - its something you'd never want to attend
as a firefighter - victims were burned beyond recognition and some of the victims were burnt alive and i mean alive And just one thought - look were Mr Adams ( Sinn Fein - IRA ) is today right in the Heart of Government - it makes me sick
jj......
