Prison Officer David Black Murder Arrests Made In Northern Ireland

Two Men Arrested Over Murder Of NI Prison Officer

Two men have been arrested in connection with the murder of a prison officer in Northern Ireland.

The men, aged 31 and 44, are being questioned about the shooting of David Black on the M1 motorway on Thursday morning.

The men were arrested in the Lurgan area in Co Armagh.

Police have blamed dissident republicans for the attack and who have been engaged in a long-running campaign against conditions in Maghaberry.

Mr Black was shot on a stretch of the motorway between Portadown and Lurgan.

A Toyota Camry used in the attack was later found burned out in the Inglewood area of Lurgan.

Fifty-two-year-old Mr Black, from Cookstown, Co Tyrone, had served in the Prison Service for more than 30 years and was considering retirement.

The long-standing member of the Orange Order became the 30th prison officer to be murdered in Northern Ireland since 1974, though the first for almost 20 years.

He was driving his black Audi A4 when the dark blue Toyota drew up alongside and several shots were fired.

His car immediately veered off the road and crashed into a drainage ditch though police believe he may have already been dead.

The arrested men have been taken to the Police Service of Northern Ireland's serious crime suite in Antrim for questioning.

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