Car bomb detonated outside UK police station ‘was sent to kill officers’

The incident happened late last night

The incident, which took place in Dunmurry, southwest of Belfast city centre, shortly after 22:50 BST, saw a delivery driver's car hijacked, fitted with a gas cylinder device as he was forced to drive it to the station before leaving it there.

While several residents had to be taken to safety by officers after the explosion, it is thought no one was injured.

Now, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said the attack is being treated as attempted murder and the investigation will be led by counter-terrorism police.

Deputy Chief Constable Bobby Singleton said in a statement: "A delivery driver's car was hijacked in the Twinbrook area of west Belfast and a gas cylinder device was placed in the boot of the vehicle. The man was ordered to drive it to Dunmurry police station."

He praised officers for their bravery as they "immediately and courageously ran into danger, placing themselves in harm's way" and evacuated nearby homes.

He continued: "A number of residents, including two babies, were being taken to safety by officers when the device exploded, engulfing the vehicle in flames and sending debris in all directions.

"Our thoughts today are with all those affected by this cowardly attack, the delivery driver for whom this will have been an extremely traumatic experience."

Brendan Mullan, chairman of the Northern Ireland Policing Board, said in a statement that the device "was sent to kill officers and cause maximum harm".

Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O'Neill took to social media to release a statement.

She wrote: "Those behind last night’s attack in Dunmurry speak for absolutely no one. They have no vision, no support, and have nothing to offer our society. Our communities deserve peace. No one is going to deny our young people and future generations that."

Meanwhile, DUP leader Gavin Robinson said: "If this was another attempt by dissident republicans to intimidate communities and target the police, then it must be met with the full force of the law."

Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn also said he was "appalled" by the incident, calling it a "shameless and cowardly attack".