Alerts could stop talks
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.An area around a key army base in north Belfast was sealed off early this morning following IRA warnings that a bomb had been left in the vicinity. Late last night warnings were telephoned to news outlets using a recognised IRA codeword, saying an anti-personnel device had been abandoned because of the presence of civilians in the area. The type of device or its location were not specified.
The warnings were taken particularly seriously in the light of a weekend IRA attempt to lure security forces into a trap when a device was left in a van containing a 1,000lb bomb, according to the security forces. This represented the first act of terrorism in Northern Ireland since 10 April, in effect breaching the seven-week undeclared IRA ceasefire.
This morning's alert was called hours before multi-party talks were set to resume today in Belfast under the chairmanship of George Mitchell, the former United States Senator, who yesterday met Tony Blair, the Prime Minister. Sinn Fein are excluded from these talks on the grounds that the IRA has not declared a ceasefire. Both British and Irish governments are reviewing the question of holding further meetings with Sinn Fein in the light of the IRA's weekend return to bombing.
The Northern Ireland security minister, Adam Ingram, said yesterday: "We are still looking at the full information coming forward, as to what the IRA are saying about it, what Sinn Fein are saying about it and, of course, our own security assessment of it."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments