‘Gun pulled on election staff’ at polling station – armed police rush to scene

ARMED police have rushed to a polling station in Northern Ireland after a man pulled a suspected handgun on election staff.

By

ULSTER HERALD

Police rushed to the polling station following the incident in West Tyrone

The incident happened at Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School in Greencastle, where locals are voting in a Parliamentary by-election to replace the former Sinn Féin MP Barry McElduff, who resigned earlier this year.

The gunman “threatened unionists” but fortunately no shots were fired and no-one was injured.

Chris Smyth, Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) candidate in the Westminster vote, had arrived at the polling station shortly after the incident and spoke to police.

He said: "I have been informed by the police that a man walked into the Greencastle polling station with what appeared to be a handgun and said to those present that if any unionists were around, he would shoot them.

"I am shocked and appalled that something like this could happen."

PA

DUP's Thomas Buchanan outside Omagh County primary school during voting in West Tyrone byelection

The suspected gunman left the scene before police arrived and staff were left badly shaken by the incident. 

Mr Smyth added: "I am informed there were no police present at the time. I arrived just 10 minutes later and there is now a strong, armed police presence at the scene.

"It is sad that we continue to have people in our society who want to terrorise and intimidate you just because of your political opinion.

"These people need to be removed from society. I for one will not be intimidated by them."

PHOTOPRESS BELFAST

Police arrived just moments after the suspected gunman fled

Virginia McVea, chief electoral officer, said: "I can confirm there was an incident, which appeared was with a handgun, in Greencastle.

"There was no weapon discharged and there were no injuries.

"I am trying to get to the bottom of it now. I'm liaising with police."

A Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) statement said: "Efforts are continuing to locate him and enquiries into the matter are ongoing."

Police in Omagh received a report of a man acting suspiciously at a polling station on the Crockanboy Road, Greencastle, just before 1pm on Thursday.

They said: "It was reported that the man may have been carrying a firearm."