Policeman shot in the North
A policeman shot in the arm as he sat in heavy traffic in the North is stable in hospital tonight.
The off-duty victim was attacked in his car close to a Catholic church in Dungannon, Co Tyrone tonight.
He is the second officer to be shot within five days – a police constable was attacked by the dissident Real IRA outside his son’s school in Derry last Thursday.
The latest target was able to drive to safety in the nearby Dungannon police station and was taken by ambulance to Craigavon Area Hospital.
Tonight, Dungannon council was to have nominated Sinn Féin members to the local District Policing Partnership, a key mainstream republican power-sharing commitment.
A Police Service of Northern Ireland spokeswoman said: “It is understood the officer was leaving Dungannon police station and was stopped at traffic lights on the Circular road where he was shot a number of times.”
He is stable in hospital, the spokeswoman said.
District commander Michael Skuce said the attack was “cowardly and despicable”.
His car was stationary outside St Patrick’s Catholic church, which has been closed off for searches and forensic tests.
Last Thursday, Constable Jim Doherty, 43, was hit by a shotgun blast when he was ambushed as he drove his car along Derry’s Bishop Street.
There have been warnings of a renewed threat posed by dissident Republicans in recent weeks opposed to political power-sharing involving Sinn Féin and the Democratic Unionist Party’s the Rev Ian Paisley.
Ulster Unionist Assemblyman Tom Elliott said: “There are some indications that the gunman was seen running off on foot.
“It is a very busy street, the road has now been closed off.”
Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward has spoken to PSNI Chief Constable Hugh Orde.
Mr Woodward said: “This is a despicable and cowardly attack on a police officer on his way home from work.
“I totally condemn it and my thoughts are with the officer and his family.”
Sinn Féin Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said anybody with information should give it to the police.
“These people have no popular support and no strategy to achieve a united Ireland,” he said.
“These people are attempting to plunge our society back into conflict.
“I am confident that the vast majority of people here will ensure that this does not happen.”
DUP peer Lord Morrow said: “It is no coincidence tonight’s Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council meeting was to see the nomination of Sinn Fein representatives to the Policing Board.
“The meeting has obviously been cancelled, and the town remains completely sealed off.”
Environment Minister Arlene Foster said it was worrying and unsettling.
“Given that we have had an attempt on an officer’s life in Derry and another attempt in Dungannon there seems to be a pattern developing here.
“That is something I don’t think we saw developing nor is it something that people want.”
DUP Assemblyman William McCrea said: “This act reinforces my view that there is an orchestrated intimidation campaign against police officers in Northern Ireland. The time has come for the police to crush these dissident groups.
“There must be no let up in the campaign against dissident republicans. There is no acceptable level of violence.”
