Markets Security Alert Was 'Viable Device'

A suspect object - thought to be a pipe bomb - has been found outside a house in south Belfast.

The device was discovered in the garden of the premises in Friendly Street in an alert that started at about 9am on Thursday.

After examining it, Army bomb experts declared it a "viable device" and have now removed it with the area now reopened by the police.

Alliance Laganbank Assembly candidate Catherine Curran has condemned the incident and described it as a deeply alarming incident: "I would urge anyone with information to contact PSNI immediately.

"The callous disregard for people in the area at the time is absolutely appalling. The miniscule minority of individuals who are involved in such activities must realise that fear and intimidation will never succeed," she said.

MLA Alex Maskey said: "The reality here is people in the Markets had their lives put directly at risk as a result of this stupid and pointless attack. It has caused unnecessary disruption and upset to many families in the run up to Christmas.

"I would call on whoever is involved in these unwanted and ridiculous attacks to bring them to an end," said the Sinn Fein politician.

The news comes just hours after gunmen targeted a family home in the Amcomri Street area of Ballymurphy in west Belfast at around 7.30pm on Wednesday.

At least three shots were fired at the front door, with strike marks being found on a living room wall indoors as well.

The PSNI said three men, one wearing a balaclava, were seen in the area and that a motive for the attack has not been established. Police have appealed for anyone with more information to come forward.

Meanwhile, there has been little sign of festive cheer elsewhere in Co Antrim with a petrol bomb attack on a house in Lisburn.

Again, no one was injured in the incident even though two devices were thrown into the Finch Gardens property shortly before 4am on Thursday with one of them igniting and caused minor scorch damage to the kitchen floor.

Three people, including a 10-year-old girl and a 15-year-old boy, were inside at the time.

Lagan Valley Alliance MLA Trevor Lunn has condemned as "thugs" those involved in an incident that saw two petrol bombs thrown at a house in Lisburn.

Trevor Lunn MLA said: "People are sick of the type of individuals who are involved in this thuggery. They need to be taken off our streets, and anyone who can help police to catch those involved should contact them immediately.

"A petrol bomb is a lethal weapon, just as much as an explosive device, with the same capacity to cause death. Is that really what the perpetrators want, to kill children?

"Those who use fear and intimidation must never get their own way. People in Lisburn will be shocked and angry about this incident. They just want to get on with their everyday lives without having thugs causing trouble in their area," he said.

This was the third such incident in 24 hours as a security alert in north Belfast only ended after the Army bomb squad made safe a pipe bomb type device.

The suspicious object - which was discovered in the garden of a house on the Cliftonville Road on Wednesday morning - was viable, police said.

North Belfast DUP MP Nigel Dodds has condemned the planting of a pipe bomb in the front garden of a house on the Cliftonville Road.

Mr Dodds said: "It is deplorable that there are still those prepared to plant explosive devices, intent of causing death and injury.

"To leave a pipe bomb in the front garden of a house on a busy road, passed by dozens of school pupils and hundreds of drivers every day, is an act of callous recklessness. Any passing person could have suffered the consequences if it had exploded.

"Those responsible for these actions are dangerous fanatics who deserve no hiding place. I would urge anyone with knowledge of who is responsible to pass that information on the police," he said, yesterday.

"Whilst the motive has yet to become known, there will be strong suspicion of dissident republican involvement. Added to the discovery of firearms in Ardoyne last week, this is another worrying development. These incidents highlight the need for vigilance by the security forces and the need for full co-operation from all sections of the community."

See: 'Viable Device' Defused

(BMcC/GK)