IRA 'poised for petrol bomb onslaught'

Sinn Fein and the IRA are planning a major attack on police today, a senior officer has warned

Assistant Chief Constable Alan McQuillan said last night that the republicans had stockpiled large quantities of petrol and acid bombs and other missiles for an attack on police lines as Orangemen pass close to the nationalist Ardoyne area in north Belfast.

Today is the anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne in 1690 and the most important day in the Protestant calender. Hundreds of Orange marches are taking place to celebrate the victory of the Protestant King William, the Duke of Orange, over the Catholic James II.

Mr McQuillan's warning, based on intelligence reports and surveillance, will inflame loyalist anger and lead to immediate calls for Sinn Fein's explusion-from the government of Ulster. He said that Sinn Fein is planning to bus hundreds of republicans in for what would be the biggest mass attack on the security forces for many years.

Republicans are furious that a controversial Orange march has been given permission to go within yards of the Catholic Ardoyne area, where there have been nightly sectarian clashes for months.

An appeal to the Northern Ireland Parades Commission to reroute the march along the Crumlin Road past the Ardoyne shops was turned down yesterday.

There have also been repeated attempts in the past few days to destroy CCTV cameras mounted on tall poles overlooking the Ardoyne area. High velocity shots were fired at the cameras, prompting police and loyalist fears that the IRA is still armed and active in the Ardoyne.

Loyalist politicians alleged that republicans wanted to plan a major attack in secret away from the prying eyes of the cameras - an allegation denied by Sinn Fein.

It is felt Mr McQuillan would not have issued his warning without the go-ahead from his Acting Chief Constable and Ulster Secretary John Reid.

The already huge force of police which were to be deployed in the area will now be increased and extra troops will pour into the area.

Mr McQuillan said : "There are major republican paramilitaries in Ardoyne who are behind this. And the IRA is the major terrorist organisation in Ardoyne. Sinn Fein started this and Sinn Fein can stop it."