Security Alert, Lurgan
17 May 2010
The security alert in the Lake Street area of Lurgan is now over and the device has been declared a hoax.
During the operation, two blast bombs and a number of petrol bombs were thrown at police. Six officers received minor injuries as a result.
Condemning the incident, Area Commander Chief Inspector Jason Murphy said: "These officers were there to protect the community. Their role was to look after the community and ensure they were not at risk but the upshot of that is they were attacked. Unfortunately for us, policing is not a risk-free environment and policing within Craigavon is not a risk-free environment but we have to put ourselves in harm's way and will continue to do so to protect the public. It is a necessary part of the job and we won't step back from it.
“The incident will be investigated and evidence recovered from the video evidence officers who were at the scene will be analysed to see if we can identify those involved. I would assure the public that if we do identify anyone involved, we will take swift action to deal with them. Those responsible for this disorder are a very small mindless group of individuals. They are not representative of the whole community here in Craigavon and my appeal is for those within the community to come forward confidentially with the information we need.
“I apologise to those residents who were evacuated from their homes. Seven families had to leave their homes as a result of this but the people who should be apologising are those that are creating mayhem within their own communities.
“Incidents like this make us determined to deliver the service we have been seeking to deliver to the whole community. We are working tirelessly with communities and community representatives to improve policing and the assurance I can give is that we remain totally committed to delivering neighbourhood policing to Lurgan and Craigavon.”
