Bomb kills N. Ireland policeman

Associated Press

DUBLIN

A 25-year-old Catholic policeman who had just joined Northern Ireland’s police force was killed Saturday when a booby-trap bomb exploded as he got into his car, police and neighbors said.

No group claimed responsibility. But police and politicians universally blamed Irish Republican Army dissidents who have repeatedly planted bombs underneath the private cars of off-duty police officers, particularly new Catholic recruits, in a bid to stop cross-community support for law and order.

Until Saturday, such booby-trap attacks had badly maimed two other officers but killed nobody. It was the first lethal attack on Northern Ireland security forces in more than two years.

The IRA dissidents have stressed their determination to target any Irish Catholics who join the Northern Ireland police force. Building Catholic support for the once Protestant-dominated police force is a central goal of Northern Ireland’s peace process.