Justice Minister Naomi Long has condemned those responsible for today’s security alert and appealed for anyone with information to come forward.
Naomi Long said: “Today, a man who left home to do a day’s work on a sunny Friday morning was threatened at gunpoint. He was told his family was in danger and forced to drive what he thought was a live bomb to a church. It must have been an utterly terrifying experience.
“Today, a grieving family had their last goodbye to their loved one disrupted; 25 homes were evacuated and residents of a nursing home had to be moved from their rooms.
“Those who orchestrated and planned this cruel and callous chain of events set out to cause maximum disruption and distress to people who were quite simply getting on with their lives. They do not care about local communities; nor do they care about the distress and emotional trauma their reckless actions cause.
“We have come too far to be dragged back in to the past and I would urge anyone with any information – no matter how insignificant it may seem - to contact the police or Crimestoppers.”
Notes to editors:
- Media enquiries should be directed to the Department of Justice Press Office via email to: press.office@justice-ni.gov.uk
- Follow the department on Twitter @Justice_NI
Latest news
- Appointment of members to Independent Monitoring Board 07 April 2023
- Chair and Board Members sought for Northern Ireland Police Fund 07 April 2023
- Prison Officer Richard’s rehabilitation work with young men wins Royal recognition 06 April 2023
- Experience of Crime and Perceptions of Crime and Policing and Justice: Findings from the 2021/22 Northern Ireland Safe Community Telephone Survey published today 31 March 2023