Three children injured in N. Ireland bomb blast, IF THIS IS NOT TERRORISM? WHAT IS IT THEN.?

IF THIS IS NOT TERRORISM? WHAT IS IT THEN.?

Men of the Protestant fraternal organisation Orange Order are seen through a security barrier under police presence during the Apprentice Boys march in Londonderry, Northern Ireland on August 14,2010. Up to 15 000 people and 140 bands are expected to attend. The Apprentice Boys of Derry is a Protestant fraternal society with a worldwide membership, founded in 1814

BELFAST — A bomb exploded in a bin in Northern Ireland on Saturday, leaving three children with minor injuries, police said.

The blast in Lurgan, County Armagh, injured a two-year-old and two 12-year-olds with its flying debris, said the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

It came as security forces were focused on policing a major Protestant parade in Londonderry, the province's second biggest city.

Police said the attack had been designed to lure in police officers with a vague warning and then injure or kill them.

Chief Inspector Sam Cordner said it was "an absolute miracle" that the children were not more seriously injured.

The blast "was an obvious attempt to kill police or injure police officers providing a service to this community as they responded to a neighbouring area following a very vague warning that a device had been left at a local school," he said.

No police were in the area when the blast hit, but "three young children were and they received injuries that left them badly shaken and requiring hospital treatment," said Cordner.

"It is an absolute miracle that these children were not more seriously injured by this sickening attack on the most vulnerable members of our community."