Annadale attempted murder – police appeal
21 Apr 2011
Detectives investigating the attempted murder of police officers at Annadale Embankment in south Belfast last Monday night have issued a fresh appeal for information.
They want to talk to a group of young people in two cars, one of which appeared to have run out of petrol, on the Embankment shortly before police were called to the scene at 23.48 following a hoax 999 call.
Serious Crime Branch Detective Superintendent David Cunningham said: “It’s only by good fortune that police officers or members of the public were not killed or seriously injured on Monday night.
“The device was small but viable. It was designed to detonate as officers went through a gate into a wooded area, triggering by a trip wire attached to the fence at the top of the Annadale Embankment where the S-bend on the road leads onto Annadale Avenue.”
D/Supt Cunningham made a specific appeal for information: “A hoax 999 call gave information about a man and woman arguing at the gate and that the woman appeared to be in distress. When police arrived a short time later they opened the gate to check out the area.
“We want to talk to a group of young people who had stopped in two cars close to the gate at about 11.40pm on Monday night. They could well have significant information which will assist this investigation.
D/Supt Cunningham said: “We think the cars might have been a dark-coloured Peugeot 206 and a small silver car. One of them appeared to have run out of petrol and the young people had a fuel can. These young people have done nothing wrong. But they were close to the scene of the attempted murder a short time before the 999 call was made. We need to talk to them.”
Detectives have re-issued a general appeal to speak to anybody who was on the Annadale Embankment between the hours of 8pm & midnight on Monday night. There may well have been somebody running, somebody walking their dog that went through that gate, maybe even some young people in the area.
Anyone with information is asked to contact detectives at North Queen Street, telephone 028 9056 1804. Alternatively, people can provide information anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
