Army Camp Blast Could Have Killed

Shrapnel from this morning's bomb attack on a north Belfast TA army base has been found in neighbouring gardens.

According to police, a viable explosive device capable of causing death or serious injury was involved in the blast that was reported in the early hours of Thursday.

It is now known that a small device was thrown at the TA base in the Ashfield Crescent area, off the Antrim Road.

The Army Technical Officer has confirmed that the explosion occurred within the confines of the camp and that it caused some blast damage inside the compound.

However, it was also responsible for sending shrapnel across a number of nearby gardens.

PSNI Area Commander Chief Inspector Ian Campbell said: "Had an innocent person been in the area at the time they could have been killed or seriously injured."

Confirming that one person had been spotted running from the area, Chief Inspector Campbell added: "We are obviously still at a very early stage in this investigation and are working to establish who carried out the attack."

He also said that anybody who has any information about this attack or anyone who noticed any suspicious activity in the area in recent days, should contact detectives at Antrim Road on 0845 600 8000.

"Alternatively, information about crime can be passed anonymously to the Crimestoppers charity by calling 0800 555 111," he concluded.

The TA unit based there is B (North Irish Horse) Squadron The Queen's Own Yeomanry.

It is part of the British army's only Irish Cavalry unit, and is equipped with Light Armoured, Tracked vehicles. It trains and operates in a role as a formation recce Sabre Squadron.

The SDLP North Belfast MLA said earlier: "Whoever was responsible is absolutely to be condemned and local people who may have knowledge of the blast should contact the police immediately," he said.

"Those who cause these explosions are not going to achieve anything, whatever their objectives may be, because they have no public support whatsoever and they are not going to get any," he continued.

"Ordinary people want them off their backs, they want proper policing in a community which is not under any paramilitary control and they are quite prepared to support the police to put the dissident groups out of business. These groups are facing failure, public contempt and long jail sentences."

A Sinn Féin Councillor for Castle Ward Tierna Cunningham has stated that the bomb attack on the Territorial Army base was reckless and endangered families living nearby.

"The bomb attack was wrong and cannot be justified. It was a reckless act in a residential area which endangered many families living nearby.

"Whatever group was responsible they need to realise that they will not succeed in their attempts to derail the Peace Process.

"Theses micro groups are trying to make themselves relevant but thy need to explain how their actions will achieve a united Ireland," she said.

(BMcC/GK)