ATO and robot at the scene of murder bid bomb attack on police in Strabane last week. Pic by NorthWest Newspix.
last month.
Charlie Love, of Bridge Street, Strabane, is charged with two counts of attempted murder as well as charges of causing an explosion and possessing explosives.
The charges are in connection with an attack on police in the town’s Mount Carmel Heights on Thursday, November 17.
Love has been remanded into custody.
At Dungannon Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, a detective inspector told the court he could connect the accused to the charges.
The court heard that at 10 58 pm on November 17, a police patrol in Strabane experienced “a large flash and a loud bang” as their vehicle passed through the Mount Carmel Heights area of the town.
The detective said officers discovered a crater at a building site during follow up searches.
A command wire leading to what police believe was a firing point close to a tree stump was also found, the officer said.
A drill and wiring, which detectives believed to be the trigger mechanism, were also discovered, the court was told.
Love was arrested on 18 November and his mobile phone seized.
The detective said Love made no comment during several interviews and was later released.
ATO and police at scene of bomb detonation by command wire in Strabane last month
A barrister for the accused challenged the DNA connection, but District Judge Alanah McSorley ruled the test for connection had been made.
The detective opposed an application for bail.
He said police believed Love could continue “to engage in terrorist activity” and added that people in Strabane were afraid to help with the investigation into the attack.
The court heard Love was a “vulnerable adult” who had been accompanied during police interviews by an appropriate adult.
The detective inspector told the court Love was “an extremely dangerous individual” who was involved with the political party Saoradh – which police believe is the political wing of the New IRA.
He had taken part in a protest outside Strabane police station on November 25, the court was told.
The detective said the New IRA said it carried out the attack in Strabane.
Judge McSorley said that there was a risk of further offending and refused bail.
The accused was remanded in custody to Maghaberry prison to appear again on January 5, 2023.
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