Bomb found under police officer's car at Belfast golf club

‘Our belief is that this attempted murder was carried out by violent dissident republicans,’ says Police Service of Northern Ireland

Police and army bomb disposal experts at Shandon Park Golf Club (PA)

Police have condemned “anti-peace” dissident republicans after an improvised bomb was found under a serving officer’s car in east Belfast.

A tournament being held at the Shandon Park Golf Club was cancelled when the device was found on Saturday afternoon and at least 70 people at the club were evacuated.

Army experts were called to the scene and, following examination, declared the device viable.

Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Detective Superintendent Sean Wright said: “Our belief is that this attempted murder was carried out by violent dissident republicans.

“They don’t care who they attack, they don’t care who they kill. They are simply anti-peace and anti-democracy.”

The golf course is situated near the headquarters of the PSNI. Club member Alan Paterson said an individual leaving the course noticed something under a car, before the security services were immediately informed.

Mr Paterson said: “Within several minutes the police arrived and identified the object and said that they felt it was viable and that they should immediately evacuate the clubhouse and surrounding area, and also get everybody else off the golf course. It is very disappointing that things have been disrupted.”

Dissident republicans opposed to the peace process and posing a threat to the security forces have used similar methods in the past.

Police and army bomb disposal experts at Shandon Park Golf Club in east Belfast (PA)

A robot was used to investigate the suspect device in the busy car park, packed with the vehicles of golfers attending a vice-captain’s day tournament.

It is understood the car park area is covered by CCTV and footage will be scrutinised by detectives.

Mr Wright, who leads the Terrorism Investigation Unit, said: “It is very fortunate that this device was detected before it exploded and that no-one was killed or seriously injured.

“It was clearly intended to kill the police officer. In placing such a device, terrorists have also put the officer’s family, neighbours and members of the public at serious risk,” he said.

“Attacks on police officers are attacks on the entire community and they are an attack on our democracy. Anyone who places an explosive device under a car in a built-up area cares little about our communities. Their reckless violence cannot be allowed to continue.”

Mr Wright appealed for anyone with information to contact police.

Mark Lindsay, chairman of the Police Federation for Northern Ireland and PSNI Chief Constable George Hamilton also condemned the attack.

Additional reporting by PA