The PSNI has discounted a claim by the Continuity IRA that its members fired on British soldiers engaged in an undercover operation in Co Armagh.
Police however last night confirmed that it was investigating an incident in Lurgan on Friday night when it is believed a shot was fired at them. No one was injured.
The Irish Republican Publicity Bureau in a statement yesterday said that two British soldiers had been discovered at about 7.30 pm last Friday “in the process of setting up an observation post in a ditch” overlooking the Drumbeg estate in Lurgan.
The CIRA claimed one of the “crown force members took flight leaving his comrade struggling to get out of the hideout”.
The dissident grouping said that as the second “soldier”, a woman, produced her weapon a CIRA member fired at her.
The CIRA said that at that stage “three carloads” of a British army “tactical support group” approached the area.
“The unit fired a shot in their direction and both sides slowly but carefully withdrew,” it added.
PSNI sources were dismissive of the claim, insisting that the British army did not operate in Northern Ireland apart from providing assistance from its bomb squad.
It confirmed however it was investigating an incident in nearby Lurgan on Friday night when it believed a shot was fired at police.
