Police in Northern Ireland have said they suspect dissident Irish republicans were behind a car bomb attack that occurred late on Saturday outside a police station in Dunmurry, a suburb southwest of Belfast. The explosion, which involved a gas cylinder-type device placed in a hijacked delivery vehicle, caused no fatalities but forced the evacuation of nearby homes, including two infants.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) reported that the device was detonated after the driver was forced to transport the bomb to the station. Deputy Chief Constable Bobby Singleton told reporters on Sunday that investigators are working on the hypothesis that the New IRA, a paramilitary group, is responsible. “There are very many similarities between the two incidents, and… our early working hypothesis is that this may well be the work of the New IRA,” he said, referring to a similar attempted bombing on 30 March in Lurgan, a nearby town, where the device failed to explode and for which the New IRA claimed responsibility.
Singleton emphasised that the investigation is in its early stages and that police will “keep an open mind.” However, he noted that the attack demonstrates that “murderous intent and capability” still exist within paramilitary groups in the region. He praised the response of officers, saying, “Police personnel immediately—and I have to say, extremely courageously, literally running into danger, placing themselves in harm’s way—evacuated nearby homes in order to protect the community.”
Political Condemnation Across the Divide
The attack drew swift condemnation from political leaders across Northern Ireland’s sectarian divide. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer wrote on X: “I utterly condemn last night’s attack on Dunmurry police station,” adding that those responsible would be brought to justice. Michelle O’Neill, Northern Ireland’s First Minister and a member of the pro-Irish unity Sinn Féin party, stated that those behind the attack “speak for absolutely no one.” Gavin Robinson, leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), the region’s main pro-UK party, called the incident “deeply concerning” and said that if it was another attempt by dissident republicans to intimidate communities, “it must be met with the full force of the law.”
Videos circulating on social media showed the vehicle ablaze at the police station around midnight, with fire crews and police working to extinguish the flames. The attack comes amid a broader context of sporadic violence from dissident republican groups opposed to the peace process, though such incidents have become less frequent in recent years. The PSNI has urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity.
This latest incident highlights ongoing security challenges in Northern Ireland, a region that remains part of the United Kingdom but has a complex political landscape. The New IRA, a splinter group of the Irish Republican Army, has been responsible for several attacks in recent years, including the 2019 murder of journalist Lyra McKee in Derry. The group opposes the Good Friday Agreement and seeks a united Ireland through violent means.
For context, the attack in Dunmurry follows a pattern of targeting police stations, which are seen as symbols of British state authority by dissident republicans. The PSNI has increased patrols in the area and is appealing for witnesses. As the investigation continues, the broader European community watches closely, given the historical significance of the Northern Ireland peace process and its implications for stability across the continent.
