The discovery of a pipe bomb in north Belfast which sparked a security alert is being linked to a hate crime against an eastern European family.
Police said they are linking the discovery of the viable device, outside a property at Atlantic Avenue, off the Antrim Road, to a racist attack on a nearby house during which a window was smashed with a rock.
It is believed the pipe bomb was also thrown at the property in the same incident, but lay undiscovered for hours, before being discovered and removed yesterday morning by the householder.
It is understood that a Slovakian family had been living in the house but had not returned to the property following the attack.
Around 20 homes were evacuated and nearby roads were closed to traffic as police and ATO examined the scene.
Families - including a number of pensioners - were forced to take refuge at the nearby Girdwood Community Hub.
They were allowed to return home by early afternoon.
Sinn Fein councillor Mary Ellen Campbell called for an end to such attacks.
"Incidents like this serve no purpose other than bringing disruption to the community and they need to stop immediately.
"I would call on anyone with information to bring it forward to the police," she added.
SDLP councillor Paul McCusker also hit out at those responsible.
"Today we are dealing with shattered windows and property damage but it could so easily have been much more tragic," he said
"Once again life in north Belfast has been disrupted by those intent on violence and chaos. Those behind this attack have nothing to offer local people and must be brought to justice."
PSNI Inspector David McBride said police removed the viable device for forensic examination and appealed to anyone who may have seen any suspicious activity in the area between midnight and 9.30am on Thursday to contact them.
“This incident caused inconvenience, disruption and upset for the local community of north Belfast and I would like to thank the members of the public for their patience and cooperation during the operation this morning," he said.
