Soldiers Murdered At Antrim Barracks
09 Mar 2009
Detectives Appeal For Information On A Car That May Have Been Used In Massereene Murders
Detectives from the PSNI's Crime Operations Department, who are investigating the murders of two soldiers at Massereene Army Barracks in County Antrim have appealed for information about a car they believe was used by the gunmen.
The green Vauxhall Cavalier, registration number TDZ 7309, was abandoned at Ranaghan Road in Randalstown about seven miles from the scene of the shooting.
Police are working on the theory that the car, which was sold two weeks ago, was used by the killers. It was discovered shortly after 11pm on Saturday night.
The car is being examined by Army bomb disposal officers. It will also be examined by forensics teams as part of the painstaking investigation process.
Detective Chief Superintendent Derek Williamson, the head of PSNI's Serious Crime Branch, said: "We have a dedicated team of officers working tirelessly on this case. One line of enquiry is the green Cavalier. We have some information about its history, but we need to find out more about its movements on Saturday night and in the past two weeks.
"We need to know where it's been, who was in it, and where they are now. This is an important line of enquiry and we need people to come forward.
"Detectives are putting everything into this investigation. We have been heartened and encouraged by the universal words of condemnation which have come from our political and community leaders.
"But words on their own are not enough. We need tangible community support in the form of information if we are going to catch these killers.
"We need people with information to talk to us. And we need those people with influence in our community to encourage them to do so and to support them when they do.
"There are people in our community, particularly the republican community, who know who did this. I wonder how they can live with that knowledge. I'm sure the families of the two soldiers are wondering. If they are frightened, we will protect them. They should have the support of everyone if they come forward. But they do need to come forward.
"It is important to remember in all the media coverage and the political reaction to what has happened that we are dealing with a cold-blooded attempt at mass murder which has left two young men dead and four other men seriously injured. That is the reality of what has happened. That is why we are asking everyone in the community to work with us to catch those responsible."
Police are also appealing to anyone who was on the Randalstown Road and Castle Road in Antrim in the vicinity of Masserene Barracks who saw anything suspicious to come forward. The incident occurred at around 9.40pm, so we would ask that anyone who was in the area between 9.15 and 9.45 to come forward and speak to us.
A major incident room has been set up at Antrim and detectives can be contacted at Antrim PSNI station on 0845 600 8000. Alternatively, members of the public can pass information anonymously to the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555111.
The Ministry of Defence today released the names of the soldiers killed in the gun attack. They were Sapper Mark Quinsey, 23, and Sapper Patrick Azimkar, 21. Both were serving with the 38 Engineer Regiment.
