Belfast prison officer injured in suspected car bomb explosion

A Belfast prison officer has been seriously injured today after his van was blown up by a car bomb.

The unnamed victim, 52, has been rushed to the Royal Victoria Hospital in the city with serious leg injuries and another person was also injured in the attack.

Police were called at around 7.10am to the Woodstock Road area in the east of Belfast, a predominantly Unionist area.

The prison officer was driving a blue VW van when the device detonated and the bomb may have been set off as he drove over a speed bump.

Assistant chief constable, PSNI, Stephen Martin, said those responsible for today's attack wanted to 'kill a prison officer'. No group has yet claimed responsibility. 

He told a press conference there are dissident republican groups who want to mark the Easter Rising's 100th anniversary this year by murdering 'police officers, prison officers or soldiers.' The Rising was mounted by republicans in an attempt to end British rule in Ireland in 1916. 

The policing boss added attacks were being identified and countered 'every day'. 

‘We have said on many occasion that the threat in Northern Ireland remains at severe and the definition of that is that an attack is highly possible,' he said.  

Attack: Police guard the blue van that was hit with a car bomb this morning in an attack on a prison officer

Attack: Police guard the blue van that was hit with a car bomb this morning in an attack on a prison officer

Injured: The unnamed victim was driving through east Belfast when the bomb went off - and police believe it may have gone off as he drove over a speed bump

Injured: The unnamed victim was driving through east Belfast when the bomb went off - and police believe it may have gone off as he drove over a speed bump

A bomb disposal robot at the scene in Woodstock Road after the device went off underneath the van

A bomb disposal robot at the scene in Woodstock Road after the device went off underneath the van

Police officers stand guard as ordinance experts arrive to assess the van and if it still poses any danger 

Police officers stand guard as ordinance experts arrive to assess the van and if it still poses any danger 

Moving in: The robot is used by to get close to the van without risking the safety of nearby officers

Moving in: The robot is used by to get close to the van without risking the safety of nearby officers

'I am not surprised by this attack and I would encourage people to be vigilant. We still have people in our society who want to kill and the primary targets are police officers, prison officers and soldiers.

‘We are deeply concerned by the current threat picture. In recent weeks we have been increasing patrols and we intend to do that in the coming weeks and through Easter. Easter is a very, very important part of the annual calendar, this year it has much greater and increased significance.' 

He revealed the prison officer, who has served for 28 years, is a married man with grown up daughters.

It is understood the prison officer works in Hydebank Wood Young Offenders' Centre in Belfast. 

Northern Ireland's First Minister Arlene Foster and Sinn Fein Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness called today's bombing a 'despicable and shocking attack.' 

Doctors said the prison officer, who required surgery for his injuries, is now in a stable condition in hospital. 

Police Service of Northern Ireland Superintendent Darrin Jones said: 'We believe a device has exploded under a vehicle. The incident was reported to police at 7.10am this morning Friday, March 4. One man has been taken to hospital.'

This afternoon police said the officer was wounded by an IRA-style booby trap bomb.  

Woodstock Road has been closed at its junctions with Omeath Street and Ravenhill Avenue. Emergency services are at the scene.

In a joint statement, Mrs Foster and Mr McGuinness said: 'Our thoughts and prayers are with this senior prison officer and his family as he is treated for his injuries in hospital.

'We join all right-thinking people in condemning these cowardly actions. 

'As a prison officer, he is someone who serves and protects our community and we are united in our rejection of this attack. 

'Prison service workers have our full support as they play their part in building a peaceful society. The perpetrators offer nothing but hatred and fear.

'We urge anyone with any information on this attack to share it with the PSNI.'

Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers said: 'I utterly condemn this vicious attack on a prison officer in east Belfast.

'Like all his colleagues in the prison service, this officer serves the whole of the community, in stark contrast to the people who carried out this appalling and violent crime.

'I strongly urge anyone with information about this murder attempt to contact the police to help bring those responsible to justice.' 

A large cordon has been put up around the scene with several streets closed off. Part of a twisted bumper can be seen lying at the side of the road.

In a joint statement, Mrs Foster and Mr McGuinness said sent their 'thoughts and prayers' to the prison officer  

In a joint statement, Mrs Foster and Mr McGuinness said sent their 'thoughts and prayers' to the prison officer  

Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers said she condemned the 'vicious attack' on the prison officer

Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers said she condemned the 'vicious attack' on the prison officer

Location: Police were called at around 7.10am to the Woodstock Road area in the east of Belfast, a predominantly Unionist area

Location: Police were called at around 7.10am to the Woodstock Road area in the east of Belfast, a predominantly Unionist area

Cordon: Police have closed off a large stretch of Woodstock Road, a long street that cuts through much of the area

Cordon: Police have closed off a large stretch of Woodstock Road, a long street that cuts through much of the area

Explosion: Police say the prison officer was injured in a car blast in the Woodstock Road area Belfast and emergency services are at the scene, pictured in the background

Explosion: Police say the prison officer was injured in a car blast in the Woodstock Road area Belfast and emergency services are at the scene, pictured in the background

Among the families making their way to school and people walking to work there was a real sense of shock.

One shop worker waiting to gain permission to open up said he had heard a 'massive' bang at about 7.20am.

'I didn't know what it was but it was huge,' said the man who declined to be named. 

Woodstock Road is a predominantly Unionist area.

East Belfast Assembly member Chris Lyttle said he was outraged, describing the attack as a 'sickening echo of the past'.

'I am shocked and sickened someone has attempted to take the life of this man,' said the Alliance Party representative.

'It is difficult to put into words the contempt every right-thinking member of society will have for those behind this attack. The people responsible offer nothing except death, injury and disruption.

'Those trying to return Northern Ireland to a climate of fear will not be allowed to win. My thoughts and prayers are with those injured by this device, and I would urge anyone with information about this incident to contact police immediately.' 

A number of houses in Hillsborough Drive have been evacuated and an emergency centre has been opened at the Salvation Army in the Cregagh Road. 

The van (centre, top) under which a device exploded in east Belfast, leaving a man injured

The van (centre, top) under which a device exploded in east Belfast, leaving a man injured

The suspected republican attack has been described as a 'sickening echo of the past' and Northern Ireland's First Minister Arlene Foster has called it: 'Disgraceful and despicable'

The suspected republican attack has been described as a 'sickening echo of the past' and Northern Ireland's First Minister Arlene Foster has called it: 'Disgraceful and despicable'

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