18 June 2001

TWO MEN ARRESTED FOLLOWING BOMB ATTACK

TWO men have been arrested following a bomb explosion at the house of SDLP councillor Martin Wilson in Larne around 2am on June 18.

While no one was injured in the attack, there was considerable damage to the front of the house at Old Glenarm Road.

Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster, Mr Wilson, who blamed the bombing on a dissident loyalist faction, said: “It was an attack on the democratic process. I will not be intimidated and chased out of my home and I will continue to represent the people who put me onto Larne council.

“My family are encouraged by the number of messages of support we have received from all sections of the community. The community needs to work together to overcome these people.”

Mr Wilson, his son, his sister and mother were asleep when the device was thrown. The family were about to leave the house to go to his brother’s home across the street when a second unexploded device was found at the front door of his brother’s house.

A number of houses were evacuated in the street while the device was being dealt with. (CD)