"We are very lucky no one was injured or killed in this reckless and pointless attack, " he said.

BBC: Gun attack on PSNI officers 'lured' to bogus burglary

North Belfast Area Commander, Ch Insp Andy Freeburn, described the attack as "reckless and callous".

BBC: Police condemn shooting of men in north Belfast

How can the Republicans, who need to find an agenda for next year's elections, be critical without seeming either mean-spirited or ideologically reckless or, if they blunt the attack on the tobacco companies, corrupt?

ECONOMIST: His own best case