Oil tanker attack on former Quinn HQ

An investigation is underway after an oil truck, stolen from a nearby business, was driven through the front gates of the former Quinn Group headquarters, near Derrylin, and set alight in an apparent attempt to blow up the property.

The incident occurred, it's understood, just before 11 o'clock last night. No one was injured.

Members of the Northern Ireland fire service were called to the scene and quickly dealt with the blaze.

The PSNI cordoned off the scene and investigations into what occurred are underway.

The renamed former Quinn Group, Aventas Group, issued a statement this morning saying what happened was a “moronic attempt to disrupt our business”.

Speaking to The Anglo-Celt, Aventas Group CEO Paul O'Brien explained that contingency plans were activated immediately, adding: “All our businesses and services are operating as normal this morning.”

The latest incident, which saw two individuals drive through bollards before reversing the tanker three times into the doors of the one of the headquarters buildings is just one in an ongoing campaign aimed at disrupting Aventas Group operations.

“Thankfully, no one was injured and the building did not catch fire. The tanker fire was put out by the local fire brigade. We are very grateful to the PSNI for their prompt response and to the local fire brigade, especially given the ever-present danger of a tanker explosion,” the company statement said.

Last night's incident is remarkably similar to an attack which occurred in 2011, when a lorry was used to drive into the front of the Quinn Group staff canteen.