Crime & Law

Man charged with attempted murder over Belfast car bomb

Device partially detonated under prison officer’s van on Hillsborough Drive last week

A bomb disposal unit officer inspects the van of a prison officer under which a bomb partially detonated at Hillsborough Drive on March 4th. Photograph: Charles McQuillan/Getty Images

Amanda Ferguson
Fri Mar 11 2016 - 21:10

A 45-year-old man is due to appear in court in Belfast on Saturday charged with the attempted murder of a prison officer.

The man has also been charged with possession of explosives with intent to endanger life.

He is due to appear at Laganside Magistrates Court on Saturday in connection with the car bomb attack in Hillsborough Drive last week.

A 39-year-old man arrested as part of the investigation has been released pending a report to the Public Prosecution Service.

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On Friday night a PSNI spokeswoman said detectives had been granted an extra 12 hours to question a 34-year-old man.

A 52-year-old prison officer had to undergo surgery for injuries he sustained last Friday morning when a device partially detonated under the van he was driving over a speed ramp close to his home in east Belfast.

The man, who has 28 years' service, had been on his way to work at Hydebank Wood Prison and Young Offenders' Centre, where he is a full-time trainer, at the time of the attack.

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