TERRORISM IN NORTHERN IRELAND - AN OVERVIEW (PART 2)

• NCJ Number: 45630
• Journal: Kriminalistik Volume: 32 Issue: 2 Dated: (1978) Pages: 65-68
• Author(s): R KRUMPACH
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 4 pages
• Corporate Author: Kriminalistik Verlag Gmbh
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: German
• Country: West Germany (Former)
• Note: A SUMMARY TRANSLATION IS PUBLISHED IN NCJRS INTERNATIONAL SUMMARIES - VOL. 3 (NCJ 57197).

Annotation

TERRORIST TACTICS AND POLICE CONTROL MEASURES ARE DISCUSSED IN THE SECOND PART OF A TWO-PART SERIES ON TERRORISM IN NORTHERN IRELAND.

Abstract

IRISH TERRORISTS ARE SUPPLIED WITH WEAPONS BY SYMPATHIZERS IN THE UNITED STATES AND LIBYA; CASH RESOURCES ALSO DERIVE FROM PROTECTION MONEY. MOST FREQUENTLY USED TACTICS ARE SNIPING WITH SMALL CALIBER RIFLES (COLT AR 15 AND ARMALITE AR 180); THROWING MOLOTOV COCKTAILS, HAND GRENADES, AND MORTARS; EXPLODING MINES WITH EXTRA SHRAPNEL, GROUND-TO-GROUND MISSILES, AND BOOBY TRAPS; AND LOADING AUTOMOBILES WITH EXPLOSIVES TO BLOW UP BUILDINGS. DELAYED TIMERS AND REMOTE CONTROLS MAKE ALL TYPES OF EXPLOSIONS PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS. POLICED COUNTERMEASURES INCLUDE FORTIFICATION OF POLICE STATIONS TO STRENGTHEN THEM AGAINST TERRORIST ATTACKS; SPECIAL PROTECTIVE CLOTHING FOR OFFICERS; MONITORING SYSTEMS; A CONFIDENTIAL POLICE TELEPHONE SYSTEM; A TELECOMMUNICATIONS CENTER; FORMALIZED SEARCH AND SEIZURE PROCEDURES TO COUNTERACT PROPAGANDA; AND ADEQUATE LEISURE TIME AS WELL AS SPECIAL COUNSELING ASSISTANCE TO COMPENSATE FOR THE STRESSFUL WORKING CONDITIONS OF THE POLICE. UNFORTUNATELY, UNIFICATION OF NORTHERN IRELAND WITH IRELAND WOULD ONLY REVERSE THE BASIC SITUATION BY MAKING PROTESTANTS A MINORITY, WHILE INDEPENDENCE WOULD DESTROY NORTHERN IRELAND'S ECONOMY. BRITISH TROOPS MUST REMAIN TO KEEP THE PEACE, BUT ANY CONCESSION BY THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT TO ONE SIDE PROVOKES A FANATIC REACTION FROM THE OTHER. THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT'S IRELAND POLICY IS FORMULATED LARGELY BY THE OPPOSITION, INDICATING THE INABILITY OF THE BRITISH PARTIES TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM. ATTEMPTS BY WOMEN OF BOTH RELIGIONS TO STOP VIOLENCE HAVE ONLY HAD SHORT-TERM EFFECTS, AND NO OTHER COUNTRY HAS BEEN WILLING TO SERVE AS A NEUTRAL ARBITRATOR IN THE DISPUTE. NO SOLUTION IS ANTICIPATED DESPITE DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN CATHOLIC AND PROTESTANT TERRORISTS, AND THE NEED FOR BRITISH INTERVENTION IS EXPECTED TO PERSIST. --IN GERMAN. (KMD)