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>BOMB DEFUSED IN SOUTH ARMAGH 09/08/09 07:43 EST > >An explosive device planted outside the NI village of >Forkhill has been made safe by the army, following a >four-day security alert in South Armagh. > >British Army experts estimated the device contained >around >600lb of home-made explosives. > >A command wire led from the roadside where it was >planted to >a firing point across the border. > >The Irish army and police mounted a security operation >in >the Irish Republic while an army bomb disposal expert >made >the device safe. > >The remnants have been taken away for forensic >examination. > >Dissident republicans are blamed for planting the bomb >on >the Carrive Road and police branded those responsible >"reckless". > >Police said they did not care who they might have >killed had >it been detonated. > >Newry and Mourne police commander Chief Inspector Sam >Cordner said: "There could have been a devastating >outcome >to this incident. The actions of terrorist criminals in >planting this device in the Forkhill area put local >people >and police officers at significant risk." > >"Their actions were reckless and dangerous in the >extreme >Their target may have been the police, but they did >not care >who they killed or injured." > >"It is only through the hard work and professionalism >of >police officers and their military colleagues that the >area >has been made safe." > >He insisted the actions of those responsible for the >device >would not deter his officers from providing a service >to the >people of South Armagh. > >"Part of that service will be an investigation into the >planting of this device. Anyone who can bring these >criminals to justice should contact us." > >"We want to thank the people of Forkhill for their >patience >and forbearance as we worked to make their area safe >for them." > >Sinn Fein MP for the area Conor Murphy has condemned >those >responsible for planting the device. > >"There is an increasing recklessness being shown by >these >groups and if they persist with this activity it will >be >only a matter of time before someone in the local >community >is killed", Mr Murphy said. > >"I would question the motives of those who are putting >the >local community in such danger." > >SDLP Newry and Armagh MLA Dominic Bradley questioned >the >response time of the PSNI in dealing with the >situation. > >"It seems the PSNI may have known about this bomb days >before they moved people from their homes and if >that's the >case then it's certainly cause for much concern", he >said. > >The police issued a general alert for the area last >Tuesday. >But, a local Sinn Fein Councillor said people near >Forkhill >only heard about it on Saturday. > >A number of residents were evacuated, as officers >searched >the area close to the border with county Louth. > >Police have urged anyone with information to talk to >them. >_______________________________________________________ >___

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