Bomb planted outside Belfast school intended to kill: police

The discovery of a bomb outside a school for young students in Belfast, capital city of Northern Ireland, was condemned Sunday by Secretary of State for Northern Ireland James Brokenshire.

The device was spotted by a police patrol outside Holy Cross Boys' Primary School in north Belfast.

Brokenshire said in a statement issued by the Northern Ireland Office: "I am sickened by this incident with dissident republican terrorists placing a bomb close to a primary school in north Belfast. This shows their wanton disregard for human life, potentially putting children in danger."

"The consequences could have been utterly devastating," said the statement.

In an official statement, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said there was no doubt the bomb was intended to kill.

The statement said a "significant device" was seized following a security alert in north Belfast's Ardoyne area.

Belfast District Commander Chief Superintendent Chris Noble said: "Shortly before midnight, police discovered what we now know to have been a significant explosive device in Brookfield Street."

Noble said the area was cordoned off and local residents, including children, were evacuated after the discovery.

The officer said the device was found to be "viable and capable of substantial harm", adding that "a number of controlled explosions were carried out and the device was rendered safe before being removed for forensic examination."

Nobel believes that the device was intended to kill community police officers patrolling and tackling community issues in Ardoyne.

"The people living in this area were placed at great risk. Had this device not been found when it had, there is no telling what we may have been dealing with. Young children would have been walking right past that device tomorrow morning, families reside in this area and children play outside," said the district commander.

Police said families with young children, older people, the sick and "those with significant disabilities had to leave their homes in the middle of the night last night.

An investigation, led by detectives from PSNI's Serious Crime Branch, is now underway.

Currently the power sharing devolved parliament in Northern Ireland is suspended following a rift between the Democratic Unionist Party and the pro-republican Sinn Fein party. Brokenshire has given politicians in the region until next month to resolve their differences or risk the possibility of direct rule from London. Enditem