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August 14, 2010

Two "miracle" children, ages 12 and three, suffered minor cuts after they were hit by flying debris, when a bomb exploded without warning in a wheelie bin in Lurgan in the South Armagh area of Ireland. The UK's Telegraph newspaper reports that the "Miracle Children" survived the bombing, which was intended to hit police officers.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland is investigating the possibility that the bomb may have been dumped after a planned dissident republican attack was aborted, according to the report. Chief Inspector Sam Cordner condemned those responsible. "The criminals involved in today's incidents are cowardly and have no regard for human life," he said.

"This no-warning explosion occurred in North Street in Lurgan and was an obvious attempt to kill police or injure police officers providing a service to this community as they responded to a neighbouring area following a very vague warning that a device had been left at a local school.

"In the event no police officers were in the area of North Street at the time of the explosion. However three young children were and they received injuries that left them badly shaken and requiring hospital treatment." The officer added, "It is an absolute miracle that these children were not more seriously injured by this sickening attack on the most vulnerable members of our community."

The explosion comes during a period of heightened dissident activity within the province which has seen several failed attacks against members of the security forces. Last Tuesday a civilian police worker escaped serious injury when a suspected booby trap fell from his car as he drove to work.

SDLP Upper Bann representative Dolores Kelly said the bomb in north Lurgan was a despicable act. She said the explosion followed a vague warning of a bomb. "This was a despicable attempt to draw police in and then set off a bomb precisely where they would have been trying to keep other people back out of danger, and that is why the children were injured by debris from the explosion." She added: "People are absolutely furious and no wonder."

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