Dissident republicans blamed after journalist shot dead in Londonderry
Dissident republican group the New IRA was probably responsible for shooting dead a journalist in Northern Ireland, police have said.
Lyra McKee, 29, was shot in the head in what police are treating as a "terrorist incident", amid disturbances in Londonderry on Thursday evening, and died later in hospital.
Police Service of Northern Ireland officers were carrying out a search operation in the Creggan area of Derry aimed at disrupting dissident republicans ahead of this weekend's commemoration of Irish independence, when a situation developed during which more than 50 petrol bombs were thrown at officers and two cars were hijacked and set on fire.
ACC Mark Hamilton says a murder inquiry has been launched & appeals to anyone with information to call police. A single gunman fired shots in a residential area and as result Ms McKee was wounded. Tragically she died from her injuries. pic.twitter.com/Y2CSmkPfl2
— PSNI (@PoliceServiceNI) April 19, 2019
During the unrest a gunman fired a number of shots at police, Assistant Chief Constable Mark Hamilton said.
He said: "Lyra McKee, 29 years old, was wounded. She was taken away in a police Land Rover to Altnagelvin Hospital but unfortunately she has died there.
"We have now launched a murder inquiry here in the city.
ACC Mark Hamilton says 'our thoughts are very much with the family & friends of Lyra McKee'. He says her murder 'demonstrates all too starkly when terrorists bring violence & guns into the community members of the public are placed in severe danger'. pic.twitter.com/26TJZMkLGD
— PSNI (@PoliceServiceNI) April 19, 2019
"We believe this to be a terrorist act, we believe it has been carried out by violent dissident republicans, our assessment at this time is that the New IRA are most likely to be the ones behind this and that forms our primary line of inquiry.
"This is a horrendous act, it is unnecessary, it is uncalled for, it is totally unjustified."