West Tyrone Ulster Unionist MLA and Policing Board Member Ross Hussey has thanked the PSNI for taking a terrorist weapon out of circulation in Strabane, County Tyrone.
Mr Hussey said:
“Once again, we in West Tyrone owe a debt of gratitude to our police service and security forces. If this gun had been found by a child we could be facing a town in mourning for another senseless death.
“Clearly these dissident republicans are acting like a cancer in our society, attempting to bring death, murder and mayhem onto our streets. Strabane seems to have been their 'target' and it is clear they 'haven't gone away'.
“Are we going to allow these terrorists to dictate how we live our lives? As they continue to conspire to destroy society, they remain an ever present threat. They clearly intend to attempt to murder a police officer in cold blood. If civilians get injured, are they considered to be acceptable 'collateral' damage?
“I am convinced that the weaponry used by these cowards were once in Provisional IRA bunkers. I am also convinced that the dissident provos kept a cache of weapons and as these attacks continue I am more convinced of that fact. I will be asking the Chief Constable for the history of any weapons recovered to indicate when they came into the province.
“May I make it crystal clear to these republicans that as an Irishman, my blood is as Irish as theirs? I thank God there has been no loss of life in Strabane but the threat has to be seen as high.”