AN INVESTIGATION is underway after a delivery driver was hijacked by masked men and forced to drive a viable device into a police station in Armagh.
The attack on Lurgan Police Station happened at around 10.30pm on March 30, the PSNI confirmed in a statement last night.
“At approximately 10.30pm on Monday 30 March, a fast food delivery driver was making a delivery in Deramore Drive in the Kilwilkie area of Lurgan when he was hijacked by two masked men, one of whom was armed with a pistol,” Assistant Chief Constable, Ryan Henderson said.
"The men placed an object in the boot of the white Audi A4 car and the driver was ordered to drive it to Lurgan Police Station or he would be killed,” he added.
ACC Ryan Henderson gives a press briefing folllowing the incident (Pic: PSNI)“The car was driven to the station where the driver escaped and ran to security staff, telling them that there was a bomb in the car.”
A security operation was put in place which saw the area evacuated, with the residents of 100 homes moved to a local rest centre at Lurgan Town Hall.
"Ammunition Technical Officers carried out a controlled explosion to make the vehicle safe and we now know that this was a crude, but viable improvised explosive device,” Ass Chf Cons Henderson confirmed last night.
“As unsophisticated as it was, it posed a significant risk to the life of the terrified delivery worker, our security staff and the local community,” he added.
"This was a reckless and cowardly attack.”
Detectives investigating the incident believe it was carried out by dissident republicans.
“Our investigation is in its early stages but, at this stage, we believe it's highly likely that dissident republican groups are responsible,” Ass Chf Cons Henderson said.
"Those responsible do not have the support of our community here in Lurgan or beyond, and it is our community who have had to deal with the disruption caused by their pathetic attempt to remain relevant and provoke fear.”
He added: "I welcome the widespread and unequivocal condemnation we have heard from across civic and political society of this attack and am grateful for the expressions of support and concern for our police officers and staff involved in this operation.
"I want to thank local residents, community representatives and businesses for their patience and support while this safety operation was carried out.”
All evacuated residents returned to their homes yesterday, the PSNI confirmed.
The investigation is being led by specialist detectives from the PSNI’s Terrorism Investigation Unit.
The police force has urged anyone who may have seen the hijacked vehicle in the Kilwilkie Estate or Lurgan town centre between 10.30pm and 10.50pm on March 30 to contact them.
"Any information which might assist with our investigation should be reported on 101, quoting reference number 1828 30/03/26,” they state.
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See More: Bomb, Lurgan Police Station, PSNI
