CCTV examined after Antrim shootings

Updated: 07:31, Monday, 16 March 2009

The killing of two British soldiers in Antrim on Saturday may have been captured on CCTV.

1 of 4Patrick Azimkar & Mark Quinsey - Shot dead in Antrim
Patrick Azimkar & Mark Quinsey - Shot dead in Antrim
2 of 4McGuinness & Adams - Criticism of dissidents
McGuinness & Adams - Criticism of dissidents
3 of 4Massereene Barracks - Brown makes morning visit
Massereene Barracks - Brown makes morning visit
4 of 4Gordon Brown - Meets British troops
Gordon Brown - Meets British troops

PSNI Chief Superintendent Derek Williamson confirmed this afternoon that 'some of the events' at the Massereene base had been filmed.

Detectives are currently examining footage from various cameras located around the entrance to the base.

Patrick Azimkar, 21, from Wood Green in London, and Mark Quinsey, 23, from Birmingham were shot dead as they collected pizzas at the gates of the Massereene base late on Saturday night.

Four people, including two pizza delivery men, were also injured in the attack.

As the investigation continues, army bomb disposal experts are examining a car, believed to be the getaway vehicle, which was left abandoned on a nearby country road.

An attempt to set the car on fire was unsuccessful.

The Taoiseach once again strongly condemned the murders of two British soldiers outside a barracks in Antrim on Saturday.

Speaking on the steps of Government Buildings, Brian Cowen said those who carried out the attack had no support and would not succeed.

Mr Cowen told reporters he had already spoken to British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Northern Ireland's First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness.

President of the European Parliament Hans Gert Pottering has described the murders as an utterly despicable act and an attempt to sweep away democracy and normal life from the streets of Northern Ireland.

Earlier, Gordon Brown hit out at those responsible for the shooting.

While on an unscheduled visit to Northern Ireland, Mr Brown met senior military officers at Massereene Barracks and some of the troops from the engineer regiment who had been due to fly out to Afghanistan on Saturday evening.

He later visited Stormont and declared that all parties were united in their opposition to the men of violence.

'They want to send out the message to the world, as I do, that the political process will not and can never be shaken,' he said.

Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams said that, while he wants to see an end to partition and an end to British Army involvement in Irish affairs, there is a way to do it which is peaceful and democratic and has popular support.

After meeting local party leaders at Stormont, he attacked dissidents' efforts to disrupt progress.

'This isn't a test for anyone, it is an attempt to subvert the peace process, it is an attempt to bring everybody back to conflict, to bring British soldiers on to the streets, to sideline politicians, and we are not going to allow that to happen.'

The Sunday Tribune said yesterday that its Northern Editor, Suzanne Breen, received a telephone call, from a purported spokesman of the Real IRA, claiming responsibility.

Ms Breen said the caller used a recognised codename.

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