Police Officer's Terrifying Encounter: Surviving the 'Massive Bang'

A PSNI officer today (Thursday) told a murder bid trial of the moment his armour-plated patrol car was hit with a 'massive bang'. The constable, known only as ‘Officer A’, gave his sworn evidence from the witness stand at Belfast Crown Court from behind a blue curtain to conceal his identity.

Explaining the Incident

He was giving evidence at the trial of Charlie Love, 30, of Bridge Street, Strabane, who is accused of the attempted murder of two police officers in the town. He is further charged with one count of causing an explosion likely to endanger life and one count of possessing explosives with intent to endanger life. All the charges are dated November 17, 2022. His 28-year-old partner Symone Murphy, from the same address, has been charged with withholding information which might assist terrorists.

Details of the Attack

On the opening day of the trial earlier this week, a senior prosecutor told trial judge Mr Justice Fowler that the defendant’s DNA was 'all over the device' used in a 'pre-planned attack' on police. Counsel said that just before 11pm on Thursday, November 17, 2022 officers ‘A’ and ‘B’ were in the Mount Carmel Heights area in an unmarked and armoured black Skoda Superb.

Encountering the Explosion

During his evidence today (Thursday), ‘Officer A’ said he and his colleague had gone to Mount Carmel Heights to follow up on an earlier complaint about anti-social behaviour between two neighbors.

Impact and Aftermath

After driving a short distance, he said he noticed a “large ball of light in the front passenger window”. “Then there was a bang, a very loud bang. I felt something hit the side of the car. The car rocked a bit,” the officer told the court. The officer said they heard over their radio of an attack in Mount Carmel Heights. He added he had responded to the transmission by saying: 'We have been hit.'

Investigation and Incriminating Evidence

The court previously heard that in the aftermath of the incident, the area including waste ground was searched and several items were removed for forensic examination. Included was a cordless drill which the Crown say was a 'trigger mechanism for the device' and it was found lying in grass. Love’s DNA was found on the drill and on a galvanized post, whilst the presence of the explosive RDX was also located at the scene, the court heard. A senior prosecutor said this type of explosive has been used by terrorists in the past and more recently linked to 'dissident Republican groups'. Love was arrested on the Derry Road in Strabane the day after the bomb attack.