Pipe Bomb Found Outside Sinn Féin Office in Newry: "Attack on Democracy" Condemned
A pipe bomb-type device was discovered outside a Sinn Féin constituency office in Newry town centre on Monday, October 6th (date unconfirmed, referencing source material). The incident has been widely condemned as an "attack on democracy" by politicians across the political spectrum in Northern Ireland.
Discovery and Response
The viable explosive device was found at the office shared by Newry and Armagh MP Dáire Hughes and Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins on Monaghan Street in Newry, County Down. Army ammunition technical officers (ATO) were called to the scene and made the device safe before removing it for further examination. A police cordon that had been established was subsequently removed.
The PSNI stated they received a report of a suspicious object in Monaghan Street shortly before midnight on Sunday. They are appealing to anyone with dash-cam or CCTV footage from the area to contact detectives in Newry.
Political Condemnation
First Minister, who is not named but implied to be from Sinn Féin, described the incident as an "attack on democracy." Vice-president of Sinn Féin Michelle O'Neill echoed this sentiment, calling the incident "absolutely horrific" but affirming that she and her colleagues "will not be deterred." Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins characterized the act as "very reckless," highlighting its profound and personal impact on staff and their families. Dáire Hughes labeled it a "disgraceful and cowardly act designed to endanger lives and cause major disruption."
During a "matter of the day" debate in the Northern Ireland Assembly, politicians from various parties joined in condemning the attack. Trevor Clarke from the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) stated that such incidents are "wrong" and that his party has "always stood on this side of the benches and condemned that as wrong." Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) assembly member Justin McNulty expressed his shock and emphasized that "violence and intimidation have absolutely no place in our society."
Impact and Future Outlook
The discovery of the pipe bomb has raised concerns about the safety of public officials and the broader political climate in Northern Ireland. While condemning the attack, political leaders have vowed to continue representing their communities without fear or hesitation and to address the safety concerns of local residents and staff.
