“They were destined for a police station. It was a reckless attack," Police Chief Superintendent Stephen Cargin told the Independent. "They were prepared to drive through a built-up area of the city to carry out this attack and cause mass fatalities."
Driving a van carrying four primed mortars, members of the New Irish Republican Army were rammed by officers who had intelligence of the plot. “There would have been mass murder of police, and serious damage to property," said Cargin.
The three would-be attackers were arrested, but this isn't the first time for such an attack. The Guardian reports:
The capture of the mortars and the specially converted van that was to be used as a launchpad for the rockets will bring back memories of one of the biggest terrorist atrocities in the Troubles. In February 1985 nine police officers were killed when mortar bombs were fired into Newry police station. Twenty-five people including civilian workers in the station were also injured in that attack.