DATE=8/15/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-237136
TITLE=N. IRELAND BOMB (L)
BYLINE=DAVID WEBER
DATELINE=LONDON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: AS MANY AS 21 PEOPLE DIED AND HUNDREDS WERE INJURED WHEN
A GIANT CAR BOMB WAS SET OFF SATURDAY IN A BUSY NORTHERN IRELAND
MARKET TOWN. DAVID WEBER HAS THIS REPORT FROM LONDON.
TEXT: POLICE SAY THEY RECEIVED A TELEPHONE WARNING THAT A CAR
BOMB HAD BEEN PLACED AT THE TYRONE COUNTY COURTHOUSE IN OMAGH.
BUT THE CRUEL IRONY WAS THAT MANY OF THE PEOPLE CLEARED FROM THE
COURTHOUSE AREA WERE WATCHING FROM BEHIND POLICE LINES SEVERAL
HUNDRED METERS AWAY -- AND THAT WAS WHERE THE BOMB EXPLODED 45
MINUTES LATER.
EYEWITNESSES DESCRIBED OMAGH AS A SCENE OF CARNAGE. FOUR
BUILDINGS WERE BADLY DAMAGED IN THE TOWN'S SHOPPING AREA, AND THE
STREETS WERE LITTERED WITH GLASS AND BURNED OUT CARS. THE COUNTY
HOSPITAL WAS PUT ON FULL EMERGENCY ALERT AND ALL DOCTORS AND
NURSES WERE CALLED IN TO HELP. THE HOSPITAL ASKED BLOOD DONORS
TO REPORT IN.
MESSAGES OF SHOCK AND OUTRAGE AND SORROW CAME FROM THE NATION'S
LEADERS. PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR WHO IS ON VACATION IN EUROPE,
DESCRIBED THE BOMBING AS "AN APPALLING ACT OF SAVAGERY AND EVIL."
HE SAID THE BOMBERS WILL BE PURSUED TO THE UTMOST TO BRING THEM
TO JUSTICE. QUEEN ELIZABETH SENT A MESSAGE OF CONDOLENCE TO THE
VICTIMS. NORTHERN IRELAND POLITICIANS WERE QUICK TO CONDEMN THE
OMAGH BOMBING.
IT WAS BY FAR THE WORST ACT OF VIOLENCE IN NORTHERN IRELAND SINCE
POLITICAL OPPONENTS FINALLY SIGNED WHAT'S KNOWN AS THE "GOOD
FRIDAY" AGREEMENT THIS YEAR TO ESTABLISH SELF-GOVERNMENT IN
NORTHERN IRELAND TO REPLACE RULE FROM LONDON. THERE HAVE BEEN
OTHER CAR BOMBS, BUT FEW INJURIES AND NOT MUCH DAMAGE. MOST OF
THE EARLIER EXPLOSIONS HAVE BEEN BLAMED ON DISSIDENT ELEMENTS OF
THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY.
THE I-R-A DECLARED A CEASEFIRE TWO YEARS AGO, AND PROTESTANT
MILITANTS ALSO CALLED A HALT TO VIOLENCE. BUT BOTH GROUPS
CONTAIN ELEMENTS THAT CLEARLY WANTED NO PART OF THE PEACE PROCESS
THAT THE PEOPLE OF NORTHERN IRELAND HOPED WOULD FINALLY END
NEARLY 30 YEARS OF SECTARIAN VIOLENCE. (SIGNED)
NEB/DW/JO
15-Aug-98 1:55 PM EDT (1755 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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