Lurgan bomb was designed to kill police officers, says local Assembly member

Police believe a bomb attack in Lurgan was an attempt by dissident www.irishcentral.com/news-topic/Irish-Republican-Army.htmlRepublicans to kill officers.

Their claims have been backed by a local Sinn Fein member of the Northern Ireland assembly. The blast occurred on the North Circular Road in the town at 3pm on Saturday afternoon.

The BBC reports that police officers were in the area at the time following information that an un-notified parade was to take place. No injuries were reported.

Sinn Fein Assembly member John O’Dowd told the BBC that he understood a bomb had exploded in a bin.

O’Dowd said: “The planting of this device along a busy road on one of the busiest days of the year was not only callous it was stupid.

“Thankfully no-one was injured as a result of this madness.”

Dissident Republicans were to blame for the attack in the Armagh town according to O’Dowd.

Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness also condemned the attack.McGuinness said: “These anti-peace extremists are living in a fantasy world.”

The Alliance Party assembly member Trevor Lunn said: “The vast majority of the public would be outraged by this attack.”