Police are treating the gun attack in West Belfast on Thursday as attempted murder.
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“People took a premeditated decision to step out into a residential area last night and bring some serious weaponry into play and fire shots at police officers”.
Most of the rounds struck the front passenger side of the vehicle but, as the picture supplied by the PSNI shows, the lives of the two officers inside were saved by the armour plating and bulletproof windows.
News quotes Belfast PSNI Commander Nigel Grimshaw as saying the attack was “mindless and reckless and an attempt to kill officers who were carrying out routine duties”.
Earlier this month, a man sitting in a auto in the Rosnareen area of west Belfast, was shot in the head and badly injured.
“Detectives have begun an investigation into this attempted murder”.
C/Supt Grimshaw appealed for anyone with information to ring 101, and added: “We will review our procedures in light of this gun attack but we will not be deterred from providing a comprehensive and community-based policing service”.
“Those who believe that trying to kill officers will achieve anything are deluded”.
Sinn Féin MLA Alex Maskey condemned the shooting.
He said on Twitter: “My thoughts are with the officers targeted in Belfast. They have used the crime scene and they have fired a number of shots at the police vehicle, hitting the police vehicle, but thankfully no-one has been injured”.
First Minister Peter Robinson said the shooting was “a futile act which could have resulted in carnage for anyone in the vicinity”. “We will not allow them to drag us back to the past”.
“Or, if someone would prefer to provide information without giving their details they can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers and speak to them anonymously on 0800 555 111”.
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“People in the community could have got caught up in this attack and it just shows the complete disregard that these people have for the area”. “Fortunately nobody has been injured but it could have been very different”.
