First Minister Arlene Foster condemns terrorist attack ‘near my childhood home’ | Continuity IRA ‘could have fired shots at civilian helicopter’ say PSNI as they ask public for patience in ongoing bomb search operation

The DUP leader spoke out after police asked the public for their continued patience as they continue to search a rural Co Fermanagh area after a report that persons purporting to represent the Continuity IRA left a suspicious device.

Mrs Foster said: “Wattlebridge is only a short distance from where I grew up.

“There has always been an a small group of extreme republicans in that area who mindlessly cling to the days of bombing and shooting.

“This latest incident where republicans claim they left a device in the area and then shot at a civilian helicopter is crazy.

“Regardless of the debate about whether they did or did not target a helicopter, who in their right mind would even think about tagettihg a helicopter over a populated area.

“The devastation is unthinkable.

“There have been a few incidents in recent times which have highlighted the utter stupidity or recklessness of these republican terrorists.

“I condemn their actions and ask the community in and around Newtownbutler to on both sides of the border to go to the police if they have information.”

A statement released this afternoon from the PSNI says that police in Fermanagh have commenced a search operation in response to a report that persons purporting to represent the Continuity IRA left a suspicious device in the Wattlebridge Road area of Newtownbutler.

They added that the report was received on Wednesday, 13th January and was followed ‘by a further claim from these violent dissident republicans that they fired shots at a police helicopter in the area on Thursday, 14th January’.

South Area Commander, Chief Superintendent Andy Freeburn said: “I can confirm that the Police Service helicopter was not deployed in the Wattlebridge area at any time on Thursday, 14th January.

“A fixed wing aircraft was deployed to conduct searches on this date.

“Following extensive enquiries we have established that a private helicopter was travelling through the area on Thursday.

“If there is any truth to the claims from dissident republicans, we believe that this civilian helicopter is the aircraft that they shot at.

“Fortunately the helicopter did not sustain any damage and its occupant was unaware of any shots being fired.

“Those involved have shown their absolute disregard for the lives of ordinary people.

“The fact that this alleged attack was intended for police, makes it no less heinous.

“Police officers safeguard our communities every day in the face of this threat and continue to do their utmost to build a safer society.

“We can all show our contempt for such senseless attacks by standing together and working in partnership to find those responsible.

“The Continuity IRA have sought to disrupt our communities a number of times over the last few years with a booby trap device in Craigavon in July 2019, an explosive device on the Cavan Road in August 2019 and an explosive device on a heavy goods vehicle in Lurgan in January 2020.

“They did not care about the danger they caused to our communities then, nor do they care now.

“All right thinking people will appreciate the catastrophic affects that a crashed aircraft would have had on the helicopter pilot and residents living in this area.

“Their recklessness knows no bounds.

“The public will appreciate that we are taking this very seriously and today we have commenced searches, working with our colleagues in An Garda Síochána, to make the area safe and to gather evidence to progress our investigation.

“A number of roads will be closed with traffic diversions in place.

“We will do our utmost to facilitate local residents and minimise any disruption.

“I am asking everyone to work with us to find those responsible for this attack on our community.

“If you have information that can assist our investigation, no matter how insignificant it may seem, please contact us immediately on 101.”

The roads currently closed are: Junction of High Street / Main Street/ Drumcru Road and Wattlebridge Road Newtownbutler.

- Junction of the Wattlebridge Road and Landbrock Road.

- Junction of the Drumgramph Road and Cavan Road

- Cavan Road 200 meters on the Cavan side of the Wattlebridge Road

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