Detectives return to Dunmurry car bomb scene in fresh appeal two weeks on

PSNI officers have stopped cars and handed out leaflets in Dunmurry after a £20,000 reward was offered for information about the car bomb attack on a police station.

The force revisited the town near Belfast on Saturday night – exactly two weeks after they had to evacuate families, including young children, after they were alerted to the explosive.

Detectives are continuing to investigate the incident and on Saturday night spoke to drivers in the area as part of their appeal for information.

At around 10.45pm on April 25, a delivery driver was threatened by a masked gunman in the Summerhill area of Twinbrook, the PSNI said.

His vehicle was hijacked, a gas canister-type bomb was put in the back of his car, and he was told he had 30 minutes to get to Dunmurry police station before the bomb would go off.

The driver raised the alarm and, as the area was being evacuated, the device exploded at around 11.15pm.

Detective Inspector Campbell, from the PSNI’s Terrorism Investigation Unit, said: “This cowardly and senseless attack, which could have claimed so many innocent lives, sent shockwaves across the community.

“The fact that local residents, including two babies, were being taken to safety by officers when the device exploded speaks volumes.”

On Saturday night, officers investigating the attack revisited the scene, carried out road stops, distributed appeal leaflets and spoke with pedestrians, drivers and passengers.

Mr Campbell said: “I’m asking you to think, for just one minute, of the utter devastation that could have resulted. And I’m asking you to do the right thing.

“If you have any information, no matter how insignificant it might seem, please speak to us.”

The independent charity Crimestoppers has offered a reward of up to £20,000 for information received directly that leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the attack.

One person has appeared in court in relation to the incident.