Dissident Republicans blamed for firebomb attacks

Dissident Republicans are being blamed for a number of firebomb attacks on premises in Belfast in the early hours of this morning.

At around 2am, emergency services were alerted to three incidents, two in the Boucher Road area of the city and one in Ann Street.

Around 80 fire-fighters were deployed to a blaze at the Homebase DIY store in the Shane retail park area of the Boucher Road.

The DIY store was destroyed during the fire, which threatened to spread to the adjacent Reid's furniture store, which was partially damaged.

A number of staff were in the Homebase store when the device exploded, however no one was injured.

It is understood that around 50 jobs could be lost due to the fire.

A short time later, a second fire was started at the Smyth's toy store, also on the Boucher Road, however fire crews managed to bring the blaze under control, with only minor damage being caused.

Around the same time, a device went off at the JJB Sports store in the Ann Street area of the city, causing major damage to the premises.

Police have warned key-holders of businesses in both the Boucher Road and the Ann Street areas of Belfast to check their premises.

Divisional Officer Chris Kerr from the Fire Service said the blaze at Boucher Road was very dangerous and lives could have been lost. At one stage, there was an explosion inside the store, involving gas cylinders - used for forklift trucks - which hampered fire-fighting efforts.

Mr Kerr added: "It is a massive fire, given the contents of Homebase, and there was a massive fireball hundreds of feet in the air which completely destroyed the store.”

Northern Ireland Secretary of State, Peter Hain said that he believes the attacks to have been a deliberate attempt by dissident republicans to derail the St Andrews Agreement, and added that "they will not be allowed to succeed.”

(EF)