Man, 66, charged after car bomb attack outside police station in Northern Ireland

A man has been charged with several offences following a car bomb attack outside a police station in Northern Ireland.

The 66-year-old suspect was arrested in the Dunmurry area under the Terrorism Act on Tuesday.

He faces charges including attempted murder, possessing explosives with intent to endanger life or cause serious injury to property, causing an explosion likely to endanger life or cause serious injury to property, possession of articles for use in terrorism and hijacking.

It comes after a delivery vehicle was hijacked in the Twinbrook area of west Belfast on Saturday.

A gas cylinder device was placed inside the car and the driver was ordered to take it to Dunmurry police station near Belfast.

The vehicle exploded outside the station as residents were being evacuated, including two babies.

Nobody was injured.

The man who has been charged is expected to appear before Lisburn Magistrates' Court on Saturday.

As is usual procedure, all charges will be reviewed by the Public Prosecution Service.

The Irish ​News newspaper quoted dissident republican group the New IRA ​on Tuesday as claiming responsibility for the attack.

The New IRA is among a number of active groups opposed to a 1998 peace ⁠deal.

The Dunmurry incident took place weeks after an attempted car bomb attack on Lurgan police station.

On Monday, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) released footage of the moment the Dunmurry car bomb exploded, after political leaders and the chief constable Jon Boutcher jointly condemned the "reckless" attack.

The footage shows a person walking along a path before a large flash of light erupts ahead.

(c) Sky News 2026: Man, 66, charged after car bomb attack outside police station in Northern Ireland