Wrong man hit by bomb?

Press, 20 February 1986, Page 1

Wrong man hit by bomb?

Speculation Is growing that the bomb which killed a rubbish truck driver at a yard in Sockbum on Tuesday was intended for someone else. It has been suggested that the target was not the man killed, Denis Murray Drinkwater, aged 40.

Mr Drinkwater was killed about 6.30 a.m. on Tuesday when a bomb exploded in a rubbish truck at the yard of Mogal Freight in Waterloo Road. The truck’s cab was destroyed and debris scattered about 100 m.

The police have said that Mr Drinkwater was “in the vicinity” of the truck at the time of the explosion. It is believed, however, that Mr Drinkwater did not usually drive the truck that contained the explosive device. A suggestion has been made that he might have tried to move

the truck to get to his own vehicle, which was blocked in.

Several gang members are reported to work on the Mogal rubbish trucks. It has been suggested in some quarters that the explosion might be related to a gang dispute and that persons other than Mr Drinkwater were the targets. The man heading the police investigation, Detective Inspector David Haslett, yesterday declined to comment on the suggestions.

Mr Haslett said that it was too early in the inquiry to speculate on a motive behind the explosion and what type of device caused it.

A big team of detectives and explosives experts continued to work on the case until late last evening. More than 30 detectives are now involved.

Detailed investigations at the site are expected to continue several days. A police cordon round me yard has reduced Waterloo Road to one lane.

The police had had a “reasonable amount” of public response to their request for information. They were still keen to hear from anyone who had travelled on'Waterloo Road between 7 p.m. on Monday and 6.27 a.m. on Tuesday, when the explosion occurred. Persons with Information are asked to get in touch with the homicide base at Christchurch Central Police Station.

The police are keeping tight control on the Jn-. formation released about the explosion. Mr Haslett has said that the inquiry is “very active” and that he hopes to have a positive result.