Northern Ireland police bomb attack ‘meant to kill’

A BOMB attack on three police officers on a busy coastal path in Northern Ireland was a sophisticated and well-planned attempt to kill, a senior detective has said.

The two men and a woman were only metres from the device when it exploded on the Duncrue towpath in north Belfast on Saturday night. They escaped injury. Forensic experts are examining if the explosive detonated fully.

There had been two previous call-outs to police on Saturday alleging that a crime had been committed on the towpath, and police are investigating whether the officers were lured there.