W2C-001 Belfast telegraph 1-1.txt
Terror alarm grows after UVF death bid Gary Grattan and Oliver McGuckin

Fear of widening campaign

Fears were mounting today that loyalist terrorists are intent in extending their murder campaign across the province.

Last night a motor mechanic beat off his would-be UVF killer at a garage near Cookstown, Tyrone.

Offensive

Security chiefs fear the UVF and UFF are planning to step-up their offensive by widening it to take in nationalist areas across Ulster.

In the past ten days four Roman Catholic civilians have been murdered by loyalist paramilitaries in Belfast.

Sinn Fein's Sean Begley said last night's attempted murder showed loyalist paramilitaries were intent on "intensifying and geographically extending their reign of terror."

The motor mechanic banged his would-be killer's head against the ground in a frantic life-or-death struggle, it was revealed today.

The 25-year-old wrestled with the UVF gunman before fleeing to safety.

Details of his escape were today recounted by a friend as the intended victim recovered.

The man was working at his garage at Dunamore Road at teatime yesterday when he was confronted by a masked man with a handgun.
"He grabbed the gunman's wrist, forcing the point of the gun downwards. A shot was discharged, grazing my friend's finger slightly.
"He got his arm round his neck and ran him out on to the concrete where he banged his head twice against the ground," his friend said.
"The gunman moaned and then a second man got out of a waiting car and shouted'shoot the bastard' as he made towards the garage.
Mate

"My mate ran for his life at that stage as he knew he would have no chance against two of them," he added.

Detectives investigating the murder bid believe the terrorist may also have been injured.

In a statement the UVF claimed responsibility for the attack and said the gun jammed.

The gunman ran to a waiting red Triumph Acclaim car - registration VIA 1729. It was later found burned out a mile away at Teebane Road close to where nine Protestant workmen were killed by a massive IRA landmine in January, 1992.

The vehicle was bought in Craigavon yesterday for £ 50. Police on Cookstown 66000 want to hear from anyone who saw it at any stage yesterday.

The attack came just hours after RUC chief constable, Sir Hugh Annesley, warned that loyalist paramilitaries were intent on stepping-up their campaign of violence.

It happened a mile from where plumber Martin McNamee was killed by a UVF booby-trap bomb in January this year.
