Army Technical Officers arrived in Newtownbutler early this morning (January 22) amidst the ongoing security alert on the Fermanagh-Cavan Border.

The security alert has been ongoing since Wednesday, January 13 as police in Fermanagh commenced a search operation in response to a report that persons purporting to represent the Continuity IRA (CIRA) left a suspicious device in the Wattlebridge Road area of Newtownbutler.

This report was followed by a further claim from dissident Republicans that they had fired shots at a police helicopter in the area on Thursday, January 14.

It was later claimed by the PSNI South Area Commander that the dissident Republicans who claimed to have shot at a police helicopter may have attacked a civilian helicopter, says the PSNI South Area Commander.

 

READ MORE: Continuity IRA may have shot at a civilian helicopter, claim PSNI in Fermanagh

 

South Area Commander Chief Superintendent Andy Freeburn confirmed on Tuesday, January 19 that that there was no police service helicopter deployed in the Wattlebridge area on January 14, following claims from the Continuity IRA (CIRA) that shots had been fired at a police helicopter. It later came to light that there was a private helicopter travelling in the area on that day and if claims from CIRA are true, they may have opened fire at a civilian aircraft.

Chief Superintendent Freeburn said: "Following extensive enquiries, the PSNI have established that a private helicopter was travelling through the area on Thursday.

“If there is any truth to the claims from dissident Republicans, we believe that this civilian helicopter is the aircraft that they shot at.

"Fortunately, the helicopter did not sustain any damage, and its occupant was unaware of any shots being fired."

Although no police service helicopter was deployed in the area on January 14, Chief Superintendent Freeburn explained that a fixed-wing aircraft was deployed to conduct searches on this day.

Chief Superintendent Freeburn stated that those involved have shown their "absolute disregard" for the lives of ordinary people.

"The fact that this alleged attack was intended for police makes it no less heinous. Police officers safeguard our communities every day in the face of this threat and continue to do their utmost to build a safer society. We can all show our contempt for such senseless attacks by standing together and working in partnership to find those responsible."