Pizza Delivery Drivers Among Wounded in Ulster Soldier Shootings

Two pizza delivery men are among those seriously injured in the attack on an army barracks in Northern Ireland that left two soldiers dead, police said.

Police at the scene of the shooting at Massereene Barracks Enlarge photo More photos: Crime

Investigating officer Detective Superintendent Derek Williamson said at least two gunmen opened fire indiscriminately, adding: "I have no doubt in my mind this was an attempt at mass murder."

The investigating officer said police were probing whether the gunmen had deliberately targeted the pizza men as well as the soldiers.

He said Dominos Pizza in Antrim had received two separate delivery orders from Massereene Barracks at around 9.20pm on Saturday. The orders were sent out separately and the two delivery men arrived one after the other. It was at this point when gunmen opened fire from a car.

The attack prompted expressions of outrage and dismay from those in the UK and Ireland.

Defence Secretary John Hutton said: "I wish to express my sincere condolences to the families, friends and comrades of the two soldiers who were tragically murdered last night (Saturday) and those who were injured. My thoughts are with them all at this extremely difficult time.

Northern Ireland's First Minister and DUP leader Peter Robinson said there must not be any retaliation for the attack.

He said: "Can I urge all of those who may be angry within the Unionist community. This is a matter to be left entirely with the police and the authorities to deal with. They are capable of dealing with it and they shall deal with it and we must give them our full support."

Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde said a "tiny number of people are determined to drag us back to where nobody wants to be", and pledged the police had "all the resources we need to find the people responsible for this".

Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams said the shootings were wrong, describing them as an attack on the peace process, and urged party members to help the police investigation. He said: "Those responsible have no support, no strategy to achieve a united Ireland... They want to destroy the progress of recent times and to plunge Ireland back into conflict."