BBC NEWS | UK | Northern Ireland | ‘Real IRA was behind army attack’
A Dublin-based newspaper has received a call supposedly from the Real IRA which claimed responsibility for the attack at Masserene army base. Using a recognised codename, it claimed responsibility for the attack in which two soldiers were killed. Four other people, including two pizza delivery men, were also injured when gunmen struck at the Antrim base.
Gerry Adams, Sinn Fein President: “Last night’s attack was an attack on the peace process. It was wrong and counter productive. Those responsible have no support, no strategy to achieve a United Ireland. Their intention is to bring British soldiers back onto the streets. They want to destroy the progress of recent times and to plunge Ireland back into conflict. Irish republicans and democrats have a duty to oppose this and to defend the peace process. There should be an end to actions like the one in Antrim last night. Sinn Fein has a responsibility to be consistent. The logic of this is that we support the police in the apprehension of those involved in last night’s attack.”
Brian Cowen, Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of the RoI: “Violence has been utterly rejected by the people of this island, both North and South. A tiny group of evil people can not and will not undermine the will of the people of Ireland to live in peace together.”