JohnCenaFan28
03-08-2009, 09:25 PM
Two British soldiers shot dead by the Real IRA outside a military barracks in Northern Ireland were wearing desert fatigues and just minutes away from leaving for Afghanistan, it was revealed.
They were ambushed by terrorists firing automatic rifles as they were about to take delivery of pizzas before catching a flight to Helmand.
The ruthlessness of the shootings, which rocked the peace process and shocked political representatives in Belfast, London and Dublin, left two other soldiers badly wounded. Two delivery men were also hit, one critically.
The Real IRA, which claimed responsibility, is the same organisation that killed 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins, in the bombing of Omagh, Co Tyrone, in August 1998.
Security chiefs believe the gunmen were prepared to murder all six in front of the main gates of the Massereene Barracks at Antrim. At one stage the killers stood over their victims and fired a second volley.
The Real IRA 'South Antrim unit' claimed responsibility in a phone call to the Sunday Tribune paper in Dublin. In a statement, the paper said: "The caller said he made no apologies for targeting British soldiers while they continued to occupy Ireland and also said he made no apologies for targeting the pizza delivery men who, he said, were collaborating with the British by servicing them."
Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde, who had earlier called in undercover soldiers to carry out surveillance operations in a bid to thwart a heightening threat against his officers, ruled out putting troops back on the streets. But the planning and execution of this double-murder after a series of failed attacks over the past two years will mean an immediate and urgent review of security measures.
There are an estimated 200-300 dissident republicans active in Northern Ireland, and even though no more than a dozen may have been directly involved, detectives believe the two masked gunmen who opened up before being driven off in a getaway car on Saturday night were clearly experienced in the use of high powered weaponry.
Sir Hugh said: "This was an act by a small group of increasingly desperate people who are determined to drag 99% of this community back to where they don't want to go."
Prime Minister Gordon Brown and the Irish Taoiseach Brian Cowen insisted the killings would not disrupt the peace process. However the Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson and the deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness have delayed a planned visit to the United States which was due to end next Tuesday with a St Patrick's Day meeting with President Obama at the White House.
-Nova
They were ambushed by terrorists firing automatic rifles as they were about to take delivery of pizzas before catching a flight to Helmand.
The ruthlessness of the shootings, which rocked the peace process and shocked political representatives in Belfast, London and Dublin, left two other soldiers badly wounded. Two delivery men were also hit, one critically.
The Real IRA, which claimed responsibility, is the same organisation that killed 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins, in the bombing of Omagh, Co Tyrone, in August 1998.
Security chiefs believe the gunmen were prepared to murder all six in front of the main gates of the Massereene Barracks at Antrim. At one stage the killers stood over their victims and fired a second volley.
The Real IRA 'South Antrim unit' claimed responsibility in a phone call to the Sunday Tribune paper in Dublin. In a statement, the paper said: "The caller said he made no apologies for targeting British soldiers while they continued to occupy Ireland and also said he made no apologies for targeting the pizza delivery men who, he said, were collaborating with the British by servicing them."
Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde, who had earlier called in undercover soldiers to carry out surveillance operations in a bid to thwart a heightening threat against his officers, ruled out putting troops back on the streets. But the planning and execution of this double-murder after a series of failed attacks over the past two years will mean an immediate and urgent review of security measures.
There are an estimated 200-300 dissident republicans active in Northern Ireland, and even though no more than a dozen may have been directly involved, detectives believe the two masked gunmen who opened up before being driven off in a getaway car on Saturday night were clearly experienced in the use of high powered weaponry.
Sir Hugh said: "This was an act by a small group of increasingly desperate people who are determined to drag 99% of this community back to where they don't want to go."
Prime Minister Gordon Brown and the Irish Taoiseach Brian Cowen insisted the killings would not disrupt the peace process. However the Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson and the deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness have delayed a planned visit to the United States which was due to end next Tuesday with a St Patrick's Day meeting with President Obama at the White House.
-Nova