Scots soldiers’ base in f irebomb attack
Explosion in post van starts blaze at barracks
A FIRE BOMB exploded inside a post van at a Northern Irish army base housing Scottish soldiers yesterday.
The device caused a blaze to break out at Palace Barracks in Holywood, County Down, where The Royal Scots Borderers The Royal Regiment of Scotland are based.
Flames spread to two other vehicles and garages within the sprawling complex, close to Belfast. There are no reports of any injuries after the outbreak of the blaze, which was quickly extinguished. The postal worker who was driving the vehicle was not inside when the device went off.
Last night, the Police Service of Northern I reland was still i nvestigating yesterday morning’s incident, which may be terrorist linked. In a statement, the force said: ‘ Detectives from the Serious Crime Branch can confirm that a small explosion occurred inside the rear of a postal vehicle within Palace Barracks in Holywood this morning.’
Due to the damage caused by fire and water, the exact nature or make-up of the device that caused the explosion has yet to be established, police added.
Superintendent Karen Baxter said that j ust after 10.35am yesterday, police received a report that a postal van was on fire within the Palace complex.
The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service attended and extinguished the blaze but the vehicle was extensively damaged. Miss Baxter added: ‘Fortunately the postal worker who had been driving this van was not inside when the explosion occurred. Although we have no information to suggest there may be other similar packages in the postal system, we are working closely with Royal Mail to mitigate any potential risk.’
Scottish soldiers have been stationed at Palace Barracks, one of the main bases in Northern Ireland, since August 2014.
The incident comes ahead of a series of military commemorative services being staged in Scotland and across Britain to mark the 70th anniversary of VJ day.
Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers described the attack as futile, adding: ‘Those responsible for sending this postal device showed a reckless disregard for the safety of postal workers and others doing their jobs. There is nothing to gain from this.’