East Belfast robbery condemned

12.00.00am GMT Mon 14th Mar 2005

Castlereagh Alliance Councillor Michael Long has condemned the robbery of a security guard at gunpoint on the Ballygowan Road in east Belfast on Saturday afternoon.

He described the attack as 'reckless' and appealed for anyone with information about the incident to contact the Police During the incident a man armed with a gun approached a Securicor van and he assaulted the guard and stole a cash box. The robber then escaped in a maroon car.

Cllr. Long said, "I am appalled at the reckless and brutal nature of this incident which I would utterly condemn. Those behind the attack must be brought to justice as soon as possible. This was an armed assault which happened with no regard for either the security guard or passers by and clearly shows that those behind the robbery are nothing but vicious thugs who are a danger to society. For this reason I would appeal to anyone with information about the attack to contact the Police."