Security scares rock Belfast: police

March 31, 2009

1 hour, 18 minutes ago

BELFAST (AFP) - Northern Ireland police on Tuesday reported a string of bomb

scares and car-jackings in Belfast overnight, blamed by politicians on dissident

republicans linked to the killings of two soldiers and a policeman.

A series of abandoned and burning vehicles caused security alerts, while several

police stations were closed because of bomb scares and a hotel next to the

Stormont Parliament was evacuated, police said.

There were also a series of car-jackings.

And 350 children at a primary school in Belfast were sent home Tuesday after a

suspicious object was found nearby, the BBC reported.

Local politicians blamed the disruption on dissident republicans making a show

of force after the shooting of two British soldiers at an army barracks and a

police officer within 48 hours of each other this month.

They were the first such killings for roughly a decade and threatened to disrupt

the peace that has reigned in Northern Ireland since a 1998 peace accord which

largely ended 30 years of civil unrest.

" The criminal terrorists responsible for the series of bomb scares and

hijackings are beneath contempt and have no support whatsoever in the

community, " said Northern Ireland's First Minister .

" In recent weeks, Northern Ireland has sent these murderers the message loud and

clear. We will not be dragged back into death and mayhem, " said , the

leader of Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party (DUP).

The scares were also condemned by the main republican party, Sinn Fein, which is

part of Northern Ireland's devolved government and has also spoken out against

the killings.

" I would like the spokespeople of those behind these alerts to come forward and

explain how this will in any way achieve a united Ireland, " said Sinn Fein

lawmaker Caral Ni Chuilin, referring to the party's main goal.

Irish Foreign Minister Micheal , describing the acts as " criminal " and

" devoid of purpose " denounced those responsible.

" They are the enemies of republicanism, " said. " This tiny minority are

defying the spoken will of the people. They have no support beyond their

ideological and physical ghettos. "

Experts said the scares marked a return to tactics used during the three decades

of civil unrest known as the Troubles by republicans wanting to disrupt the

British province's economy.

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