'Snuff out warped dissident groups' says Gavin Robinson after bomb plot foiled
DUP leader Gavin Robinson has blamed “warped dissidents trying to destroy community cohesion in Northern Ireland” for the would-be bomb attack.
Speaking to media at CS Lewis Square in his constituency of East Belfast, Mr Robinson said he was glad the plot was foiled that day but said they “need to be snuffed out”.
“We know that this is yet another example of that particular drum beat of terrorism that hasn’t gone away,” said the MP.
He believed the bomb was destined for Northern Ireland, to be planted by dissident group the New IRA.
Mr Robinson also referenced a “steep learning curve” for Prime Minister Andy Burnham and new Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Bryant.
“The first role and responsibility of any government is to protect our citizens, and the Secretary of State and the Prime Minister will have a steep learning curve as to the impact of cross-border terror, but terror throughout the United Kingdom,” he said.
“Andy Burnham has experience from the Manchester Arena attacks.
"He knows the ravages of terrorism, how devastating it can be for community cohesion and I have no doubt that in the coming hours, days and weeks they are going to get an understanding of just the continual threat that we face as a society and how important it is for our law enforcement agencies and intelligence services to keep working to protect us.”
He also questioned if “sufficient resources and operational focus are being directed towards disrupting these organisations before they reach this stage” by the Irish state.