North Belfast Pipe Bomb 'Risked Lives'

There has been widespread condemnation after the Army dealt with a viable pipe bomb in north Belfast yesterday. It was left at the site of a hostel that is currently being extended, which holds former prisoners, including sex offenders against whom recent protests were held.

The device was removed after an operation that first saw the police seal of an area between Glandore Avenue and Skegoniel on the Antrim Road.

The SDLP's Alban Maginness said: "Those responsible for planting this device have nothing positive to offer. Their actions bring only disruption and misery and have again caused inconvenience to residents and businesses in the area.

"People who live and work in North Belfast are sick, sore and tired of these repeated security incidents. I would urge anyone with information about this incident to contact the PSNI," he added.

He was speaking after the Army bomb disposals experts were called to the Antrim Road and - after examining it - they declared it a viable pipe bomb.

Part of the Antrim Road was closed during the alert, as was Salisbury Avenue.

Several homes were evacuated during the alert but residents were allowed to return to their homes just before 1.30pm on Monday.

Adding her voice, Sinn Fein's May Ellen Campbell said lives had been put at risk.

Speaking as people were moved from their Antrim Road homes because of a bomb alert, Ms Campbell said that workers and local people were put at risk by the incident.

The Castle councillor added: "This pointless attack put workers lives at risk as they arrived on site and found the device.

"The pipe bomb caused disruption to local residents who were evacuated from their surrounding homes.

"There is absolutely no justification for placing this pipe bomb on this building site or anywhere else.

"I'm once again grateful to the local community for their co-operation and to the local church for opening their facility to shelter residents during this latest incident," she concluded.

(BMcC/GK)