Una base dell’esercito britannico in Irlanda del Nord è stata attaccata ieri sera da alcuni sconosciuti a colpi di arma da fuoco. Il bilancio è di due soldati uccisi e di quattro feriti gravi (due militari e due civili). Un portavoce del ministero della Difesa, citato dalla Bbc, ha riferito che l’assalto è avvenuto da un automezzo in corsa davanti alla base di Massereene, nella contea di Antrim, che ospita il 38/mo reggimento del Genio. Ancora non vi sono state rivendicazioni per l’attentato, il primo che ha provocato morti dalla firma degli accordi di pace nel 1998. Secondo le ricostruzioni un gruppo di armati ha attaccato i militari dopo essersi avvicinati all’edificio a bordo di un pulmino di un servizio di consegna di pizze a domicilio. Robison ha definito l’attacco “un terribile ricordo del passato”. Mentre l’ultimo soldato britannico, prima dell’attacco di ieri, era stato ucciso in Ulster nel 1997. Negli ultimi mesi il capo della polizia dell’Irlanda del Nord, Sir Hugh Orde, aveva lanciato l’allarme riguardo ad una ripresa di attivita’ di contrasto alla pace da parte di gruppi di dissidenti repubblicani (AdnKronos).
Two male military personnel have been killed in a shooting outside an army barracks in Northern Ireland. Four other people were wounded during the attack at the Massereene base in Antrim. Shots were fired from a passing car and there were two long bursts of gunfire, according to reports. Immediately afterwards sirens could be heard inside the military barracks, which is located on the edge of the town. Northern Ireland Ambulance service spokesman Norman Cunningham told Sky News an emergency call was received at 9.40pm. “The caller said there was a shooting incident and there were multiple people injured,” he said. “We dispatched six ambulances and two rapid response vehicles, and then transferred six patients to hospital but two have died. Immediately after the attack sirens could be heard inside the military barracks, which is located on the edge of the town. The area around the barracks has been sealed off and a major security operation is under way. (Sky News)











Hard realities of situation in Ireland must be faced
Statement from Ruairí Ó Brádaigh, President, Republican Sinn Féin
For more than 20 years Republican Sinn Féin has been warning that the lessons of Irish history have been that as long as the British government and British occupation troops remain in Ireland there will be Irish people to oppose their presence here.
It is only a matter of days since Hugh Order, the head of the RUC, announced that undercover British troops were being brought back into this country.
While everyone regretted loss of life, the hard realities of the situation in Ireland must be faced.
ENDS
By: Rory (Lory) on March 8, 2009
at 10:25 pm