The murder of young journalist Lyra McKee in Derry/Londonderry is ‘horrendous and unjustified’.
Those are the words of Assistant Chief Constable Mark Hamilton that people around the world are waking up to this morning.
He is appealing to those intent on violence in Derry/Londonderry to draw back. And he says all these are doing nothing but causing misery.
In an early morning press conference Assistant Chief Constable Mark Hamilton said police had information of possible attacks in the city during the Easter weekend. They had earlier carried out searches for firearms which led to rioting in the Creggan.
Lyra had been standing beside a police Land Rover at the time of the shooting.
Mr Hamilton offered his sympathies to the family of Ms McKee and appealed for anyone with information to contact his officers.
Lyra was 29 and had recently signed a two-book deal with Faber for her investigative journalism.
ACC Mark Hamilton says the murder of Lyra McKee is ‘horrendous and unjustified’. He is appealing to those intent on violence to draw back. He says all these acts of violence are doing nothing but causing misery. pic.twitter.com/TuBFClFboO
— PSNI (@PoliceServiceNI) April 19, 2019
Shocked by news that woman shot dead in Derry last night has been named locally as @NUJofficial Lyra McKee. We are shocked by killing of a journalist of courage, style and integrity. Sympathy to her partner, family and many friends. @kathrynjohnston
— Séamus Dooley (@Seamusdo) April 19, 2019
I just received the heartbreaking news that my friend @LyraMcKee was murdered tonight in a terrorist incident in Derry.
She was one of my closest friends. She was my mentor. She was a groomswoman at my wedding. I can't imagine life without her, and yet now I must. I'm devastated
— Matthew Hughes (@matthewhughes) April 19, 2019