Nordirland: Erneut Terroranschlag auf Mobilfunksender
Terrororganisation UVF verübt Anschlag
Quelle: Belfast Telegraph, 06.01.2003
In Nordirland ist erneut ein Anschlag auf einen Mobilfunksender verübt worden, nachdem ein anderer Mast erst kurz zuvor angegriffen worden war (Krebshäufungen in der Umgebung). Der Sendemast des Mobilfunkbetreibers Hutchison 3G wurde durch den Terroranschlag ausser Betrieb gesetzt. Der Anschlag geht offensichtlich auf das Konto der nordirischen Terrororganisation UVF (Ulster Volunteer Force), die am Tatort ihre Kürzel hinterliess. Vor wenigen Tagen hatte die UVF in einem Schreiben ihre Unterstützung für die betroffene Bevölkerung angekündigt. Die paramilitärische Gruppe bekundete in einem Statement ihre volle Unterstützung für die Bürger von Harryville für "jedwede Massnahmen, die erforderlich sein sollten, die Errichtung des Senders zu verhindern." Die Terrorgruppe fügte hinzu: "Unsere Freiwilligen werden die Situation weiter beobachten und sich von den demokratischen Wünschen der Menschen in der Region leiten lassen." Die nordirische Polizei hat die Untersuchungen aufgenommen.
Originalartikel:
"PHONE MAST TERROR RAID"
UVF [Ulster Volunteer Force] BLAMED
FOR ATTACK AT BALLYMENA SITE by
Staff Reporter
Terrorists have damaged a controversial
phone mast, the latest
communication installation to be
targeted in Northern Ireland, it
emerged today.
The UVF was being blamed for making
unusable the base of a mast being
built in Balymena. It follows the
toppling of a communications mast at
County Tyrone earlier this month,
although no paramilitary involvement
is suspected in that attack.
The spectre of terrorism in mobile
phone mast protests is likely to
prove an unwelcome development for
mainstream anti-mast compaigners.
The Ballymena incident comes just
days after the paramilitary gang
issued a statement that they were
in support of local people who opposed
the erection of the structure in
an industrial estate in the Harryville
area. A loyalist source confirmed:
"The base was removed on Sunday
night/Monday morning. "I was told
about
this at 6.40 am and went round
at first light and a number of the
fixing studs have been sheared off at
concrete level and the rest are
bent. They are unusable. "A couple of
pieces of cardboard with the words
'UVF' written on them were left at
the scene. "It is safe to say that
the UVF carried this out," said the
source.
Last week, in their statement, the
paramilitary group said they were
opposed to the mast because the
people in the area were against it
because of health concerns. The
terrorists' statement had pledged their
full support to the people of Harryville
in "whatever meansures they
feel they must take to prevent the
erection of the mast." It added: "Our
volunteers will continue to monitor
the situation and will abide by the
democratic wishes of the people
in the area in the course of their
campaign."
Work on the mast base started in
recent weeks but was halted for the
Christmas and New Year holidays.
A spokesman for Hutchinson 3G, which is
erecting the mast, said: I have
no comment to make at this stage other
than to say that we have been engaging
with residents and councillors in
connection with the overall issue."
Police examined the scene on Monday.
The mast is set to be discussed at
a meeting between Ballymena Council
and planners this Thursday night.
The telecommunications industry says
masts are necessary for mobile phone
coverage, for which there is