§ Mr. Kilfedderasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the Provisional IRA was operating a road block in the Crossmaglen district at the 112W same time as the recent security operation in the same district; whether he has received any reports of news reporters being fired upon at or near such an IRA road block; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesI am informed that at 15.20 hours on 11th October a car containing three men, two of them journalists, was stopped near Crossmaglen by a group of five armed and masked terrorists. The three men were being searched by the terrorists when another car arrived which distracted the terrorists' attention and enabled the three men to make good their escape. A number of shots were fired by the terrorists at the escaping car. As soon as the three men reached Crossmaglen they reported the incident to the security forces and a patrol was immediately sent to investigate. When the patrol reached the scene of the incident the terrorists were not to be seen, but a bomb exploded which fortunately did not injure any members of the patrol. The incident took place at a time when the security forces were engaged in a major operation in the South Armagh area.