(8 Oct 1996) English/Nat
Sinn Fein President, Gerry Adams, on Tuesday expressed his "shock" at the bombing of a British army base in Northern Ireland.
He admitted the bombing was a "very serious development" but said he remained committed to building a peace process.
The British Government stopped short of blaming the I-R-A - but implied that the group was responsible.
Northern Ireland Secretary, Sir Patrick Mayhew, cut short a visit to a big U-S economic conference on Northern Ireland in Pittsburgh and flew home in the early hours of Monday.
In Belfast, Sir Patrick had emergency talks with police and army chiefs to try to find out how two car bombs got inside the top security Lisburn base.
He wouldn't name names - but left little doubt as to whom he blamed for the bombing.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"We don't know yet who it was. It is certainly consistent with a terrorist organisation that declared an end to a cease-fire that it had proclaimed in August 94."
SUPER CAPTION: Sir Patrick Mayhew, Northern Ireland Secretary
The I-R-A announced its cease-fire on that date.
Sir Patrick Mayhew urged calm following the Lisburn attack.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Do not be deflected from the restraint and the self-discipline and the wisdom that you have shown. If you are, if you take this bait that has been offered for you, it you go into this baited trap then it will be catastrophe for you and catastrophe for everybody in Northern Ireland."
SUPER CAPTION: Sir Patrick Mayhew, Northern Ireland Secretary
Sinn Fein's president Gerry Adams expressed his "shock" at the bombing and extended his sympathy to the injured and their families.
He knows the attack could spark a deadly response from Protestant Loyalists.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"When we reflect on what provoking loyalists means.. it means the wholesale slaughter of , it means the killing of members of our party, our family members or our activists. I don't think anybody would want to provoke that kind of action."
SUPER CAPTION: Gerry Adams, President of Sinn Fein
It was the first attack on a military installation in Northern Ireland in two years, and raises the likelihood that pro-British "loyalist" gunmen will break their own cease-fire and resume killing Catholics.
But David Adams of the Ulster Democratic party urged Loyalists to show restraint.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Our party will be doing all on our part to try and convince the Loyalist paramilitaries that's it's in the best interest of all the people in Northern Ireland that the Loyalist's cease-fire is maintained. Having said that, I must say that we need assistance in that, we need help from the government, we need help from the other Unionists parties in order to make this process seem worthwhile to most Loyalist paramilitaries."
SUPER CAPTION: David Adams, Ulster Democratic Party
One British soldier was fighting for his life Tuesday following the double bomb blast - another six people remain in a serious condition.
More damaging still for the British Army is the knowledge that supposedly tight security was breached with such devastating effect.
People in Belfast's Shankhill road hope there won't be big upsurge in violence.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I don't expect, any retaliation at all I think they are more intelligent now, very stupid people did that yesterday. "
SUPER CAPTION: VOXPOP
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"After what happened yesterday it's not going to help matters much. It will take them to get something sorted out before it gets out of hand again"
SUPER CAPTION: VOXPOP
Find out more about AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
Twitter: [ Ссылка ]
Facebook: [ Ссылка ]
Instagram: [ Ссылка ]
You can license this story through AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
