§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Minister of State for Defence under what circumstances the Army was called to the Waterside Branch of the Londonderry Municipal Library on the night of 2nd June after incendiary devices had ignited in the building; what searches the Army carried out; what other incendiary devices were found as a result; and what arrests were made.
§ Mr. G. Johnson SmithEarly in the evening of 2nd June an Army ammunition technical officer was called to the Waterside Branch Library where three wax capsule-and-acid type incendiary devices had ignited. A search of the building revealed that a further three such devices had been placed among the books. I understand that no arrests have so far been made in connection with this incident.
§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Minister of State for Defence under what circumstances an Army explosive expert was called to examine the community recreation centre built by the Army in Brooke Park, Londonderry, Northern Ireland, after it had been damaged by an explosion on the night of 2nd June; what were the findings of his investigations; what searches resulted; and what arrests were made.
§ Mr. G. Johnson SmithAt 12.45 a.m. on 3rd June an explosion occurred at the Brooke Park Community Centre which caused extensive structural damage to the west end of the building, and broken windows in nearby buildings. An examination at the site of the explosion was carried out by an Army ammunition technical officer. His conclusions were that some 8 to 10 lb. of explosive had been used, and that detonation had been by means of a safety fuse. I understand that no arrests have so far been made in connection with this incident.
§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Minister of Slate for Defence under what circumstances an Army explosive expert was 342W called to examine an office block under construction for the Northern Ireland Government in Blacks Road, Dunmurry, Northern Ireland after it had been damaged by an explosion on the night of 3rd June; what were the findings of his investigations; what searches resulted; and what arrests were made.
§ Mr. G. Johnson SmithAt 10.15 p.m. on 3rd June the Royal Ulster Constabulary reported an explosion at the Department of the Environment building at the junction of Blacks Road and Lisburn Road. As a result of his search of the immediate site of the explosion an Army ammunition technical officer concluded that some 5 to 101b. of explosive had been used. I understand that four men were apprehended by the R.U.C. in connection with this incident and the incident at the Ulster Public Record Office on the same day, and that charges were subsequently laid against two of them.
§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Minister of State for Defence under what circumstances an Army explosive expert was called to examine an office block under construction for the Ulster Public Record Office at Balmoral Avenue, Belfast, after it had been damaged by an explosion on the night of 3rd June; what were the findings of his investigations; what searches resulted: and what arrests were made.
§ Mr. G. Johnson SmithShortly after 11 p.m. on 3rd June an explosion was reported in the boiler room of the Central Record Office, Belfast. As a result of his search of the site of the explosion, an Army ammunition technical officer concluded that between 10 and 201bs of explosive had been used. The matter of arrests is dealt with in my immediately preceding answer.