Dunmurry: Car bomb attack 'reckless and stupid', says police chief

Dunmurry: Car bomb attack 'reckless and stupid', says police chief

Dunmurry: Car bomb attack 'reckless and stupid', says police chief

Police have released body-worn footage capturing the moment a car bomb exploded outside a police station.

The device detonated while police were directing local residents to safety, including families with young babies.

A delivery driver had been forced to transport the bomb to its target.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) believes dissident republicans carried out the bombing, which is being treated as attempted murder.

Northern Ireland's police chief said it was a "deliberate, reckless and stupid attack".

Jon Boutcher praised the bravery of officers who "rushed towards danger" to evacuate family homes close to Dunmurry police station on Saturday night.

The man's vehicle had been hijacked at gunpoint in Twinbrook, west Belfast, shortly after 22:50 BST on Saturday.

His vehicle was then fitted with a gas cylinder device before he was ordered to bring the bomb to the station, where it exploded.

Boutcher was speaking at a press conference at Stormont, during which the first and deputy first ministers and the Policing Board chair also condemned the attack.

"We thought it was really crucially important today that we stood here together with a united voice," First Minister Michelle O'Neill said.

She said the bomb had put people's lives at risk and "showed a blatant disregard for the local community".

O'Neill added it was an "extremely terrifying ordeal" for the delivery driver.

Deputy First Minister Emma Little Pengelly said she was "absolutely appalled" by the bombing.

"It is vitally important that we send a very clear message this morning that we stand shoulder to shoulder in clear and unequivocal condemnation of this attack."

Boutcher called the bombers "mindless idiots" and urged anyone with information to contact the PSNI "before these people actually harm or kill somebody".

The chair of the Policing Board, Brendan Mullan, commended the courage of officers who came out their station, past the bomb, to evacuate homes.

He said their bravery "stands in stark contrast to the cowardice of those that forced a delivery driver to bring a device and park it outside the police station".

Speaking on the BBC's Nolan Show earlier on Monday, Boutcher hailed the deliver driver's reaction as "incredibly brave".

He said the man "alerted police staff and officers as to what had happened" which enabled the evacuation of residents.

"Fortunately, and it's only through good fortune, that nobody was seriously injured or killed," Boutcher said.

The attack took place in a built-up area, close to family homes in which many children were already in bed asleep.

A pensioner who lives in the house closest to where it exploded says he is "very fortunate" not to have been hit by the blast.

John McGuinness, 72, was in the porch of his home, and about to leave with his partner, when the bomb went off.

"I put my foot in the porch and bomb went off," John told BBC News NI.

"If we'd gone out one minute earlier … we'd have been in the absolute full of the blast. We were very fortunate."

On Saturday evening, McGuinness was watching snooker on TV when the police came to his door and told him he needed to leave the house immediately.

"It's absolutely terrible, you think this (a bomb attack) is in the past.

"What do they expect to achieve? I'm quite angry about it actually."

The blast also caused problems for local businesses, including the Dunmurry Dental Practice which was very close to the bomb site.

"We've a bit of superficial damage - some ridge tiles broke, roof tiles broken," said dentist Philip McLorinan.

"A bit of dust, bit of disturbance inside the building but we're just extremely fortunate we have a building to come back to today."

The dentist added that the attack was "really disruptive" as the surgery has "thousands of patients here relying on appointments every day of the week".

However, McLorinan insisted it would be "business as usual".

One resident forced to leave his home during the evacuation on Saturday said the bomb sounded like a car crashing into a wall.

Father-of-two Joe Morgan lives about 110 yards from Dunmurry police station.

His children - aged two and four - were asleep and he was getting ready for bed himself when he heard a "loud bang".

"I grew up at the tail end of the Troubles, so my mind didn't actually immediately go to an explosion, he told the BBC's Good Morning Ulster programme.

"I thought it was maybe a vehicle that had crashed into something in the street or my house."

Police officers then began knocking on doors in his street, advising residents to evacuate in case there was a secondary device.

"Your brain starts going 100 miles a minute," Morgan recalled.

He said he tried to stay calm while he packed some belongings, but admitted that the "adrenaline is going quite a bit at this point".

His pregnant wife was staying at her mother's house on Saturday night and he said he was "grateful" she was not at home at the time. His family returned home on Sunday evening.

By Mark Simpson, BBC News NI community correspondent

The reckless nature of the car bomb shows the danger posed by violent dissident republicans.

Groups like the New IRA have only a very small number of activists and minimal support, but they have deadly intent.

A similar attack to Dunmurry took place at Lurgan police station last month but the device did not explode.

Security experts will be looking closely at the two attacks to assess what it means in terms of the level of threat and the current capabilities of violent groups.

The police in Northern Ireland have largely contained violent republicans in recent years, but the two attacks are a reminder that security chiefs cannot be complacent.

Speaking in the Commons on Monday afternoon as MPs condemned the attack, Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn paid tribute to what he called the "extraordinary efforts" of the PSNI.

"It is their tireless work that keeps our communities safe and this government will continue to support these efforts as together we seek to bring those responsible for terrorism to account," he added.

Boutcher told the Nolan Show that the PSNI "haven't been supported" when compared to counterparts across the UK and Republic of Ireland.

"There are all sorts of reasons for that, some of which are linked to the fact we are not funded for legacy by the government in Westminster and decisions have been made here to put funding towards other public services rather than policing."

Asked if the PSNI receives enough support from Stormont's two largest parties, Sinn Féin and the DUP, Boucher claimed he doesn't "think any of us are doing enough, and I have spoken to those political leaders about that".

"Everybody linking arm-in-arm, should be standing together shoulder-to-shoulder, standing up for policing in Northern Ireland in a way that I am accustomed to elsewhere, and has that happened the way I want it to here? No, it hasn't."

The Police Federation for Northern Ireland, which represents rank and file PSNI officers, described the bombing as "the definition of madness".

"This doesn't move the needle towards any particular goal," said its chair Liam Kelly.

"All it does is show that there are still people who want to murder my colleagues and deliver pain and suffering in our communities."

The term "dissident republicans" describes a range of individuals who do not accept the Good Friday Agreement.

The Provisional IRA - the main armed republican paramilitary group for most of the Troubles - declared a ceasefire in the run up to the agreement and officially ended its violent campaign in 2005.

Dissident republicanism is made up of various groups which broke away from the Provisional IRA, including the Continuity IRA and New IRA.

The groups are much smaller than the Provisional IRA, although they have access to high-calibre weapons and explosive devices.

Niall Carson/PA Wire Three forensic investigators dressed in white hazmat suits, blue plastic gloves and blue medical masks walk in front of the wreckage of a car bomb, examining the ground.  The vehicle has been blown apart.  One of the investigators is holding a dog lead which is tethered to a slim black Labrador.  The dog is wearing a bright yellow harness which says: "Police K-9".
PA Media Four people stand behind lecterns with microphones, addressing a press briefing in a large, ornate indoor hall with marble walls and tall columns. All are dressed in formal or professional attire, and one person on the right wears a uniform with a visible police badge.
Resident
A man with a white beard. He has a grey half zip
A man with curly brown hair and a beard. Wearing black rimmed glasses and a green knitted jumper. He is staring into camera with neutral expression. He is stood on a residential street in front of a white car.
#attack #bomb #car #dunmurry #reckless


Upprunaleg slóð:
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c80m0mgvm05o

📰 Aðrar fréttir

'My cancer spread while I waited 128 days for an op':  The cost of England's care gap
📅 10.09.2026 👁️ 1
'My cancer spread while I waited 128 days for an op': The cost of England's care gap
Cancer care has got worse since the government announced plans to speed up waiting times and save more lives, BBC analysis shows.
Tate-bræður fá ekki lausn gegn tryggingu
📅 10.09.2026 👁️ 1
Tate-bræður fá ekki lausn gegn tryggingu
Beiðni bræðranna Andrew og Tristan Tate um lausn úr fangelsi gegn tryggingu var hafnað í gær. Saksóknari á Miami á Flórída úrskurðaði að þeir gætu ógn...
Russia outpacing Ukraine's air defences with daily use of new jet-powered drones
📅 10.09.2026 👁️ 1
Russia outpacing Ukraine's air defences with daily use of new jet-powered drones
The new models can travel at speeds of up to 300mph, faster than Ukraine's air defence interceptors.
Four takeaways from Trump's speech at midterms convention
📅 10.09.2026 👁️ 1
Four takeaways from Trump's speech at midterms convention
He covered many of the subjects he has returned to time and again - with a few surprises thrown in.
Telur að stríðinu ljúki að loknum þingkosningum í Bandaríkjunum
📅 10.09.2026 👁️ 1
Telur að stríðinu ljúki að loknum þingkosningum í Bandaríkjunum
Donald Trump Bandaríkjaforseti telur að stríðinu við Íran ljúki um leið og þingkosningar í Bandaríkjunum verða afstaðnar í nóvember. Hann bætti við að...
Tourist tax plans for England set to be outlined
📅 10.09.2026 👁️ 1
Tourist tax plans for England set to be outlined
The government is expected to outline how local leaders will be able to impose levies on overnight stays.
Alvarlegt ferjuslys nærri vinsælum ferðamannastað
📅 10.09.2026 👁️ 1
Alvarlegt ferjuslys nærri vinsælum ferðamannastað
Að minnsta kosti fimm eru látnir og 87 er saknað eftir að eldur braust út um borð í ferju nærri vinsælum ferðamannastað í Palawan á Filippseyjum í gær...
August ties for hottest month on record as global heat climbs
📅 10.09.2026 👁️ 1
August ties for hottest month on record as global heat climbs
Climate change and the rising influence of El Niño saw August reach the record for warmest month.
Tveir fórust í sprengingu í vatnsaflsvirkjun
📅 10.09.2026 👁️ 1
Tveir fórust í sprengingu í vatnsaflsvirkjun
Tveir fórust í sprengingu í vatnsaflsvirkjun í Sviss í dag, að sögn lögregluyfirvalda.Sprengingin varð í vatnsaflsvirkjun í þorpinu Piotta í suðurhlut...
Tax banks to give some households energy bill cut, unions tell PM
📅 10.09.2026 👁️ 2
Tax banks to give some households energy bill cut, unions tell PM
The TUC says a bank surcharge should be reversed - and estimates it would raise £9bn over four years.
Got a migraine, acne or ear infection? Go to your chemist first
📅 10.09.2026 👁️ 2
Got a migraine, acne or ear infection? Go to your chemist first
Pharmacies in England will soon offer treatments for a total of 12 common conditions which save people going to their GP first.
Upp­gjör sýni „al­var­lega“ stöðu Seltjarnarnesbæjar - Vísir
📅 09.09.2026 👁️ 2
Upp­gjör sýni „al­var­lega“ stöðu Seltjarnarnesbæjar - Vísir
Þessi slæma fjárhagsstaða kalli á tafarlaus og markviss viðbrögð. Í bókuninni, sem send var á fjölmiðla í kvöld, segir að meðal helstu vandræða sveita...
Iran war won't end until after US midterm elections, says Trump
📅 09.09.2026 👁️ 2
Iran war won't end until after US midterm elections, says Trump
The president also tells reporters he does not think oil prices will come down until after the crucial November vote.
Pakistanar sögðu klerka­stjórninni að koma böndum á Húta - Vísir
📅 09.09.2026 👁️ 2
Pakistanar sögðu klerka­stjórninni að koma böndum á Húta - Vísir
Íranir svöruðu viðvöruninni með því að segja að Hútar væru ekki handbendi þeirra. Heimildarmenn Reuters fréttaveitunnar í Íran segja hins vegar að ráð...
AI is becoming harder to control – can humans stay in charge?
📅 09.09.2026 👁️ 2
AI is becoming harder to control – can humans stay in charge?
AI agents went on an uncontrolled hacking spree, leaving some in the industry worried
Erfiður þingvetur framundan – Inga Sæland drottning ríkisstjórnarinnar
📅 09.09.2026 👁️ 2
Erfiður þingvetur framundan – Inga Sæland drottning ríkisstjórnarinnar
„Ég held að þetta verði mjög erfiður vetur fyrir ríkisstjórnarflokkana og þær augljóslega ætla ekki að gefa neitt eftir. Það var allavega ekki verið a...
Vöruðu við flóttanum til Ceuta daginn áður en af honum varð
📅 09.09.2026 👁️ 1
Vöruðu við flóttanum til Ceuta daginn áður en af honum varð
Spænska leyniþjónustan (CNI) varaði við mögulegum fjöldaflótta fólks frá Marokkó til Ceuta degi áður en af honum varð. Þetta kemur fram í opinberum sk...
Prince William joins Kane and Shearer in campaign to prevent suicide through sport
📅 09.09.2026 👁️ 2
Prince William joins Kane and Shearer in campaign to prevent suicide through sport
The prince's new project aims to use the reach of sport to raise awareness about suicide and to show people the help available in a crisis.
Viður­kenndi efasemdir: „Ég ætla samt ekki að sýkna hana“ - Vísir
📅 09.09.2026 👁️ 2
Viður­kenndi efasemdir: „Ég ætla samt ekki að sýkna hana“ - Vísir
Réttarhöldunum lauk án niðurstöðu vegna þessa síðasta kviðdómanda en þá höfðu kviðdómendur reynt að ná saman í málinu í sjö daga. Sá síðasti sagðist e...
BBC visits West Bank village in area earmarked by Israel for settlement
📅 09.09.2026 👁️ 1
BBC visits West Bank village in area earmarked by Israel for settlement
BBC's Middle East Correspondent Lucy Williamson visits the Palestinian community of Khan al Ahmar in the so-called E1 area, and the neighbouring Israe...
Taka þurfi betur utan um börn með erlendan bakgrunn
📅 09.09.2026 👁️ 1
Taka þurfi betur utan um börn með erlendan bakgrunn
Mikilvægt er að taka sérstaklega utan um börn með erlendan bakgrunn, bæði félagslega og í námi, segir Fríða Bjarney Jónsdóttir er samhæfingastjóri MEM...
Var í símanum við dóttur sína þegar hún dó – „Hún sá hann ekki“
📅 09.09.2026 👁️ 3
Var í símanum við dóttur sína þegar hún dó – „Hún sá hann ekki“
Kanadískur maður þurfti að hlusta á þegar dóttir hans var drepin af skógarbirni í gegnum símann. Hann gat ekkert gert til að hjálpa á meðan.Breska bla...
Heitt vatn alls staðar um miðnætti
📅 09.09.2026 👁️ 3
Heitt vatn alls staðar um miðnætti
Allir íbúar á Suðurnesjum ættu að vera komnir með eðlilegan þrýsting á heitu vatni um miðnætti, þetta segir Sigrún Inga Ævarsdóttir, upplýsingafulltrú...
Spanish intelligence warned of Ceuta mass crossing plans before surge
📅 09.09.2026 👁️ 3
Spanish intelligence warned of Ceuta mass crossing plans before surge
Declassified documents show Spanish and Moroccan authorities were alerted to social media calls for a mass migrant crossing the day before tens of tho...
Muted US response to UK's West Bank sanctions may reflect simmering frustration
📅 09.09.2026 👁️ 3
Muted US response to UK's West Bank sanctions may reflect simmering frustration
The UK accuses Israel's government of turning a blind eye to the "ethnic cleansing" of Palestinians by settlers.
„Ég vil kalla þetta landsbyggðarskatt“
📅 09.09.2026 👁️ 3
„Ég vil kalla þetta landsbyggðarskatt“
Sveitarstjórnarfólk á Norðurlandi eystra segir landsbyggðarskatt felast í nýkynntum fjárlögum, til dæmis með kílómetragjaldinu og hækkun virðisaukaska...
„Ríkisstjórnin fær falleinkunn í hagstjórn“
📅 09.09.2026 👁️ 3
„Ríkisstjórnin fær falleinkunn í hagstjórn“
„Í stað þess að fara Framsóknarleiðina með áherslu á vinnu, vöxt og velferð blasir við önnur niðurstaða. Ríkisstjórnin hefur því miður valið að fara a...
Ísland hefur vanrækt Grænland
📅 09.09.2026 👁️ 3
Ísland hefur vanrækt Grænland
Ísland hefur vanrækt Grænland Fréttin9. september 2026Aðsend grein, Erlent, Innlent, Júlíus ValssonLeave a Comment Júlíus Valsson skrifar: Á meðan ísl...
„Til að fá áhuga á að lesa þá verður maður að kunna það“
📅 09.09.2026 👁️ 3
„Til að fá áhuga á að lesa þá verður maður að kunna það“
PISA-könnunin er á allra vörum en árangur íslenskra nemenda hefur þar aldrei verið verri en nú. Niðurstöðurnar voru kynntar í gær og þar kom fram að 4...
„Þið fáið ekki að skil­greina hvað ís­lenska þjóðin sagði“ - Vísir
📅 09.09.2026 👁️ 3
„Þið fáið ekki að skil­greina hvað ís­lenska þjóðin sagði“ - Vísir
„Við þau sem fögnuðu strax niðurstöðunni erlendis –  [Marine] Le Pen, [Nigel] Farage, þingmenn AfD í Þýskalandi og Salvini  á Ítalíu, sem eru reyndar ...
Landlæknir kannar aðstæður hjá SÁÁ
📅 09.09.2026 👁️ 3
Landlæknir kannar aðstæður hjá SÁÁ
Öryggi sjúklinga og gæði þjónustunnar verða að vera í fyrirrúmi, segir landlæknir um stöðuna hjá SÁÁ. Hún segir að ef rekstrarformið trufli það, þá þu...
„Mistök að byggja ekki upp skíðasvæðið í Skálafelli“
📅 09.09.2026 👁️ 3
„Mistök að byggja ekki upp skíðasvæðið í Skálafelli“
Valdimar Breiðfjörð Birgisson, fulltrúi Mosfellsbæjar í samstarfsnefnd skíðasvæða höfuðborgarsvæðisins, segir það mistök að byggja ekki upp skíðasvæði...
Nuclear watchdog refers Iran to UN Security Council over 'non-compliance'
📅 09.09.2026 👁️ 3
Nuclear watchdog refers Iran to UN Security Council over 'non-compliance'
Tehran condemns the resolution, blaming US and Israeli strikes on its nuclear facilities for disrupting inspections.
Þorgerður með skilaboð til Farage, Le Pen og AfD
📅 09.09.2026 👁️ 3
Þorgerður með skilaboð til Farage, Le Pen og AfD
Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir utanríkisráðherra sendi erlendum ráðamönnum sem fögnuðu niðurstöðu þjóðaratkvæðagreiðslunnar um aðildarviðræður við Evr...
Verkin segi allt aðra sögu en Krist­rún - Vísir
📅 09.09.2026 👁️ 3
Verkin segi allt aðra sögu en Krist­rún - Vísir
Þetta sagði Guðrún Hafsteinsdóttir formaður Sjálfstæðisflokksins undir umræðum um stefnuræðu forsætisráðherra í kvöld. Kristrún Frostadóttir, forsætis...
„Við sögðumst ætla að laga Ísland. Við erum að laga Ísland“
📅 09.09.2026 👁️ 3
„Við sögðumst ætla að laga Ísland. Við erum að laga Ísland“
Kristrún Frostadóttir hvatti þingmenn og þjóð til góðra verka í stefnuræðu sinni á Alþingi í kvöld.„Þetta er sameiginlegt verkefni okkar, þvert á flok...
Telja ís­lenska birgja sátta og áfengisverð í frí­höfninni sam­keppnis­hæft - Vísir
📅 09.09.2026 👁️ 3
Telja ís­lenska birgja sátta og áfengisverð í frí­höfninni sam­keppnis­hæft - Vísir
Þetta er meðal þess sem fram kom á blaðamannafundi sem haldinn var á Keflavíkurflugvelli í dag, í tilefni þess að hulunni var svipt af breytingum á fr...
„Við erum að laga Ís­land“ - Vísir
📅 09.09.2026 👁️ 3
„Við erum að laga Ís­land“ - Vísir
Kristrún Frostadóttir forsætisráðherra flutti í kvöld stefnuræðu sína fyrir 158. löggjafarþing Alþingis. Þingið var formlega sett í gær og samdægurs k...
Vafamál hvort lögreglan mátti fara inn í hús vegna gruns um heimilisofbeldi
📅 09.09.2026 👁️ 3
Vafamál hvort lögreglan mátti fara inn í hús vegna gruns um heimilisofbeldi
Nefnd um eftirlit með lögreglu hefur komist að þeirri niðurstöðu að vafi leiki á hvort lögreglunni á höfuðborgarsvæðinu hafi verið heimil innganga á h...
Selenskí á Íslandi og fundaði með Þorgerði - „Við áttum upplýsandi og einlægt samtal“
📅 09.09.2026 👁️ 3
Selenskí á Íslandi og fundaði með Þorgerði - „Við áttum upplýsandi og einlægt samtal“
Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir utanríkisráðherra átti fund með Volodómír Selenskí, forseta Úkraínu, á Keflavíkurflugvelli síðdegis í dag. Þetta kemur ...
Báðust afsökunar á neyðarlegu augnabliki í sögulegri sjónvarpsútsendingu
📅 09.09.2026 👁️ 3
Báðust afsökunar á neyðarlegu augnabliki í sögulegri sjónvarpsútsendingu
Haraldur V. Noregskonungur var jarðsunginn frá dómkirkjunni í Osló í dag. Athöfnin þótti tilkomumikil en norska ríkissjónvarpið, NRK, neyddist til að ...
Drag Race UK: BBC drops Ru Paul show after eight series
📅 09.09.2026 👁️ 3
Drag Race UK: BBC drops Ru Paul show after eight series
Future series will no longer be broadcast on BBC Three as the show moves to a streaming platform owned by its production company.
Tal um tveggja ríkja lausn innantómt ef aðgerðir fylgja ekki
📅 09.09.2026 👁️ 3
Tal um tveggja ríkja lausn innantómt ef aðgerðir fylgja ekki
Stjórnvöld í Ísrael hafa kynnt aðgerðir gegn Bretum eftir að bresk stjórnvöld tilkynntu refsiaðgerðir gegn Ísrael í gær og sökuðu landtökufólk um þjóð...
Forsætisráðherra flytur stefnuræðu og þingmenn bregðast við
📅 09.09.2026 👁️ 3
Forsætisráðherra flytur stefnuræðu og þingmenn bregðast við
Kristrún Frostadóttir forsætisráðherra gerir grein fyrir helstu stefnumálum ríkisstjórnarinnar í stefnuræðu á Alþingi. Samhliða því birtist þingmálask...
Forsætisráðherra flutti stefnuræðu og þingmenn brugðust við
📅 09.09.2026 👁️ 3
Forsætisráðherra flutti stefnuræðu og þingmenn brugðust við
Kristrún Frostadóttir forsætisráðherra gerði grein fyrir helstu stefnumálum ríkisstjórnarinnar í stefnuræðu á Alþingi. Samhliða því birtist þingmálask...
Þorgerður fundaði með Zelensky á Keflavíkurflugvelli
📅 09.09.2026 👁️ 3
Þorgerður fundaði með Zelensky á Keflavíkurflugvelli
Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir utanríkisráðherra fundaði með Volodymyr Zelensky Úkraínuforseta á Keflavíkurflugvelli síðdegis í dag. Þetta kemur fram ...
Selenskí kíkti á klakann - Vísir
📅 09.09.2026 👁️ 3
Selenskí kíkti á klakann - Vísir
„Við áttum upplýsandi og einlægt samtal um stöðu mála og ég undirstrikaði staðfastan stuðning Íslands við varnarbaráttu Úkraínu gegn landvinningastríð...
Death of Sir Richard Branson's wife linked to lack of preventative medication
📅 09.09.2026 👁️ 2
Death of Sir Richard Branson's wife linked to lack of preventative medication
Lady Joan Branson died after suffering a cardiac arrest at the private Lister Hospital in Chelsea last year.
Út­gjöldin há en niður­staðan rýr - Vísir
📅 09.09.2026 👁️ 2
Út­gjöldin há en niður­staðan rýr - Vísir
Eins og greint var frá í gær hefur íslenskum nemendum aldrei gengið jafn illa í PISA-prófinu og nú. Niðurstöðurnar, sem eru úr könnunum sem lagðar vor...
Út­gjöldin mikil en niður­staðan rýr - Vísir
📅 09.09.2026 👁️ 3
Út­gjöldin mikil en niður­staðan rýr - Vísir
Eins og greint var frá í gær hefur íslenskum nemendum aldrei gengið jafn illa í PISA-prófinu og nú. Niðurstöðurnar, sem eru úr könnunum sem lagðar vor...