14/12/2012
Pipe Bomb Found At Photographer's Home
A press photographer and his family have had to evacuate their home near Newry, County Down, after a pipe bomb was discovered.
Mark Pearce from Mayobridge believes he was targeted because of his job.
The family was woken by police shortly after midnight on Friday and were evacuated along with six other homes in the street.
The device had been left outside his front door. Mr Pearce had been in the house with his partner and children, aged 12 and 14, at the time.
He was speaking on BBC Radio Ulster.
Mr Pearce explained: "We were woken at a quarter past twelve with the rear door of my house being battered, torches shining, and police came into the house.
"I had to grab my children, grab what I could and escape out the back of the house and pass by a pipe bomb which had been set against the front door of my home," he said.
"It was terrifying, trying to calm my children. It was just something I wouldn't wish on anybody."
He has been a photographer for over 20 years but said an incident like this had never happened before.
He added: "I'm scared, I'm fearful that somebody could have the audacity to come to my door and put a bomb to endanger me, my family, my neighbours - for what?
"Being a press photographer, I go to many events and I presume I have been seen at an event and somebody has taken a vendetta against me.
"I don't know what sort of a photograph could give somebody the idea that putting a bomb at their home would somehow justify it."
Residents were allowed to return to their homes at about 05:20.
(IT)
Mark Pearce from Mayobridge believes he was targeted because of his job.
The family was woken by police shortly after midnight on Friday and were evacuated along with six other homes in the street.
The device had been left outside his front door. Mr Pearce had been in the house with his partner and children, aged 12 and 14, at the time.
He was speaking on BBC Radio Ulster.
Mr Pearce explained: "We were woken at a quarter past twelve with the rear door of my house being battered, torches shining, and police came into the house.
"I had to grab my children, grab what I could and escape out the back of the house and pass by a pipe bomb which had been set against the front door of my home," he said.
"It was terrifying, trying to calm my children. It was just something I wouldn't wish on anybody."
He has been a photographer for over 20 years but said an incident like this had never happened before.
He added: "I'm scared, I'm fearful that somebody could have the audacity to come to my door and put a bomb to endanger me, my family, my neighbours - for what?
"Being a press photographer, I go to many events and I presume I have been seen at an event and somebody has taken a vendetta against me.
"I don't know what sort of a photograph could give somebody the idea that putting a bomb at their home would somehow justify it."
Residents were allowed to return to their homes at about 05:20.
(IT)
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