Belfast police warn of further attacks after bomb blast injures prison officer

Belfast police warn of further attacks after bomb blast injures prison officer



Police in Northern Ireland have warned of a severe threat to security forces after a prison officer was hurt by a bomb exploding under his van in Belfast on Friday.

The 52-year-old’s injuries are said to be serious but not life threatening.

Police said the bomb went off shortly after the man started driving away from his home and that those responsible ‘wanted to kill a prison officer’.

Assistant Chief Constable Stephen Martin blamed nationalists opposed to British rule.

More attacks are feared in the run-up to the centenary of the 1916 anti-British Easter Rising.

The rebellion, centred in Dublin, paved the way for the Irish republic to achieve independence, while the six counties of Northern Ireland remained in the United Kingdom.

It will be marked by events on both sides of the Irish border this month.