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File pic: A British Army Soldier on patrol at Palace Barracks. Associated Press

Blaze at army base in Co Down engulfs cars and garages

In 2010, the Real IRA planted a bomb at the same barracks.

A POSSIBLE FIRE bomb may have caused an explosion and fire at an army base in Holywood, Co Down.

The blast, inside a parcel delivery van at Palace Barracks, happened at around 10.30am.

A fire that broke out in the aftermath of the explosion spread to two other vehicles and garages nearby.

The postal worker wasn’t in the van when it happened.

“Due to the damage caused by fire and water, the exact nature or make up of the device that caused the explosion has yet to be established,” Superintendent Karen Baxter of the PSNI Serious Crime Branch said.

“Although we have no information to suggest there may be other similar packages in the postal system we are working closely with Royal Mail to mitigate any potential risk.”

The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service responded immediately, the PSNI said this evening.

The BBC reports that it may have been caused by an incendiary device.

In 2010, the Real IRA admitted planting a car bomb that exploded outside the base. It had been placed in a taxi hijacked about seven miles away.

Read: 27 headstones destroyed by vandals at Goldenbridge Cemetery

Read: Coast Guard and Navy search for fisherman swept into the sea

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14 Comments
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    Mute Ryan Murphy
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    Aug 11th 2013, 6:19 PM

    Another calamity averted by the services, both staffed and voluntary, who respond promptly and efficiently at all times.

    People need to put their brains in gear as well as their protective equipment, which has been instrumental in saving up to nine lives in the last two days alone.

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    Mute Fergal Kelly
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    Aug 11th 2013, 6:27 PM

    Tramore RNLI seem to be involved quite often in these articles!

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    Mute Paul
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    Aug 11th 2013, 5:57 PM

    Any fish for the table salvaged!

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    Mute ThomasFrancisMeagher
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    Aug 12th 2013, 9:25 AM

    Well done Tramore lifeboat crew, these guys are real heroes & deserve far better support from government than what they get.

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    Mute Eoghan Hartery
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    Aug 11th 2013, 11:55 PM

    Sadly it was around the same spot that a number of fisherman from the locality between Tramore and Dunmore East have also lost their lives recently and In the past by the same coastal tides around this area. None of them were ignorant of the sea nor what the consequences are but I do know that there are a lot of freak waves and swells that can have the ability to turn over / capsize a boat just after you sail / motor around Brownstown head….. This area has had a fair share of drowning/ sinkings/ capsizes and deaths so thankfully all those on board were recovered safely…..

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    Mute Lillian O'Connor
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    Aug 11th 2013, 6:26 PM

    Will they ever learn from other souls’ tragedies

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    Mute Diarmaid Kelly
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    Aug 11th 2013, 7:25 PM

    And do what lillian not work and not feed their families.

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    Mute sydney shaw
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    Aug 11th 2013, 9:15 PM

    They were anglers dude,not out for profit .

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    Mute Bilbo Baggins
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    Aug 12th 2013, 12:14 AM

    I don’t see anywhere in the article that error on their part was to blame?? The fact that they were wearing their life jackets possibly saved them long enough to be rescued, so what puts them at fault?

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    Mute Cathal Nolan
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    Aug 12th 2013, 1:02 AM

    The lad who swam ashore took a big risk leaving the upturned boat. He wouldn’t have to do so if they brought some form of communication such as VHF radio or even flares. Going pooly equipped is a massive fault in itself

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    Mute louise vaughan
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    Aug 15th 2013, 10:09 PM

    Accidents do happen….as the wife of the owner of the boat, I cannot thank the RNLI enough for their swift rescue and if there is a lesson for all to learn it’s that the sea is not a playground. When a tragedy occurs, the crew of the RNLI are putting their lives at risk as well. Please, I beg you all, DO NOT TAKE THE SEA FOR GRANTED. I thank GOD that I did not have to bury my husband and friends after Sundays incident,

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