Northern Ireland

Pipe bomb found in north Belfast had been 'thrown at police vehicle'

A controlled explosion was carried out on a pipe bomb on North Queen Street 
A controlled explosion was carried out on a pipe bomb on North Queen Street  A controlled explosion was carried out on a pipe bomb on North Queen Street 

A PIPE bomb that caused a security alert in north Belfast on Tuesday is believed to have been thrown at a passing PSNI vehicle the night before, police have said.

A senior officer said an attempted murder investigation has now been launched.

The device was discovered at North Queen Street on Tuesday morning, sparking an alert which closed roads and forced residents to spend hours out of their homes.

Army bomb disposal experts carried out a controlled explosion to make the bomb safe.

Dissident republicans are likely to have been behind the attack, which happened as anti-internment bonfires were being lit across the city.

Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín said on Tuesday: "It is no surprise to anyone that this incident followed a night of anti-social behaviour in the area associated with a nearby bonfire, which included street fighting among rival gangs and the theft and burning of local property."

During the security alert, two women, aged 27 and 38, were arrested on suspicion of breaching the police cordon.

It is understood that one woman entered the area in order to attempt to retrieve a football.

Detective Chief Inspector Peter Montgomery said: "It is now believed that this device was most likely thrown at a police vehicle the evening before.

"If this is an attack on police officers, we are very lucky that none of my colleagues or members of the public were injured.

"This incident also caused massive inconvenience, disruption and upset for the local community of north Belfast and I would like to reiterate our thanks to the members of the public for their patience and cooperation during the operation on Tuesday morning."

Inspector Montgomery added: "I am appealing for anyone who noticed any activity in the North Queen Street area, close to Spamount Street, between Monday evening and Tuesday morning. I am also interested in speaking to the driver of a White Van seen in North Queen Street, just before midnight."

Anyone with information was asked to contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.