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Belfast: Hand grenade thrown at police patrol in Short Strand Belfast: Hand grenade thrown at police patrol in Short Strand could have killed
(about 2 hours later)
A "military-style hand grenade" was thrown at a police patrol in Belfast but failed to explode, the Police Service of Northern Ireland has said. Police have said a "military-style hand grenade" thrown at a police patrol in Belfast could have killed officers and young children.
The attack took place in the Short Strand, in the east of the city, at about 22:15 BST on Friday.
The grenade was thrown at officers near Pottingers Quay, as they responded to reports of anti-social behaviour.The grenade was thrown at officers near Pottingers Quay, as they responded to reports of anti-social behaviour.
As they returned to their vehicle, the device was thrown and landed at police officers' feet but failed to explode.
It was the second attack in Belfast with 48 hours targeting police or those with links to the security forces.It was the second attack in Belfast with 48 hours targeting police or those with links to the security forces.
Supt Bobby Singleton said "people could have been killed last night".
"The device was thrown and landed very close to officers, basically at their feet, and they had to leave the area," he said.
"There were young people in this area, within feet of where that grenade landed at the feet of the police officers as well.
"It is really only through good fortune that we are not looking at fatalities.
"This was a reckless and senseless attack and what really concerns me is that this is the second time in 48 hours that terrorists have put explosives on the street, in the vicinity in particular of young people who were in the area at this time."
On Thursday, a bomb found was found in Linden Gardens, north Belfast, that police said may have fallen from a car belonging to a man with connections to the armed forces.On Thursday, a bomb found was found in Linden Gardens, north Belfast, that police said may have fallen from a car belonging to a man with connections to the armed forces.
'Act of madness''Act of madness'
A senior Belfast police officer, Supt Bobby Singleton, said the Short Strand attack had taken place in a built-up residential area and added that it was "only by sheer good fortune that we do not have a fatality on our hands".
Supt Singleton added: "Those who carried out this attack showed a total disregard for the safety of the local community and worryingly, for the second time in as many days, young people who were in the vicinity at the time of the attack."
Earlier, PSNI Chief Constable George Hamilton described the Short Strand attack as an "act of madness".Earlier, PSNI Chief Constable George Hamilton described the Short Strand attack as an "act of madness".
Writing on his Twitter account, Mr Hamilton said it "could have killed or injured police or local residents".Writing on his Twitter account, Mr Hamilton said it "could have killed or injured police or local residents".
'Remain vigilant''Remain vigilant'
A number of homes were evacuated on Friday night while Army bomb officers examined the unexploded grenade.A number of homes were evacuated on Friday night while Army bomb officers examined the unexploded grenade.
No damage was caused and none of the police officers was injured.No damage was caused and none of the police officers was injured.
Supt Singleton said it was "the second attempt by terrorists to kill people in Belfast in 48 hours". The Short Strand security operation in continuing and the area between the Albertbridge Road and the Bridge End flyover remains cordoned off.
"Thankfully, on both occasions, they failed but I would appeal to people to remain vigilant and appeal to everyone in the community to continue to work with police by providing information to us so we can keep everyone safe." Police said residents and motorists had faced "significant disturbance" as a result of the security operation and apologised.
The Short Strand security operation in continuing and area between the Albertbridge Road and the Bridge End flyover remains cordoned off.