This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-25372680
The article has changed 14 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Small explosion in Cathedral Quarter in Belfast | Small explosion in Cathedral Quarter in Belfast |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| There has been a small explosion in Belfast's Cathedral Quarter. | There has been a small explosion in Belfast's Cathedral Quarter. |
| Police have confirmed it was caused by a bomb. A warning had been phoned to a Belfast newspaper and the bomb exploded at Exchange Street West at about 18:45 GMT as the area was being cleared. | |
| There are no reports of injuries. A security alert in the area is continuing. | There are no reports of injuries. A security alert in the area is continuing. |
| The Cathedral Quarter is one of the main entertainment venues in Belfast, home to several bars and restaurants. | The Cathedral Quarter is one of the main entertainment venues in Belfast, home to several bars and restaurants. |
| Police have asked shop-keepers and business people in Belfast to check their premises thoroughly before closing on Friday night. | Police have asked shop-keepers and business people in Belfast to check their premises thoroughly before closing on Friday night. |
| "The exact nature of tonight's explosive device in the Cathedral Quarter area has not yet been established," a spokesperson added. | "The exact nature of tonight's explosive device in the Cathedral Quarter area has not yet been established," a spokesperson added. |
| An eyewitness, Paul Simms from Bangor, told the BBC: "I was going to see a Christmas play with my wife, 10-year-old twins and my parents at the MAC (Metropolitan Arts Centre). | An eyewitness, Paul Simms from Bangor, told the BBC: "I was going to see a Christmas play with my wife, 10-year-old twins and my parents at the MAC (Metropolitan Arts Centre). |
| "There was a police cordon set up across the road. | "There was a police cordon set up across the road. |
| "I had just crossed the road to speak to a policeman by the cordon when there was a bright flash and loud bang about 40 metres away - behind a car parked beside the theatre. | "I had just crossed the road to speak to a policeman by the cordon when there was a bright flash and loud bang about 40 metres away - behind a car parked beside the theatre. |
| "Needless to say my kids were scared and we were all quite shocked. | "Needless to say my kids were scared and we were all quite shocked. |
| "Being typical Northern Ireland, most people just stood around hoping they could get to where they were going. Many had been evacuated from the bars and pubs in the area and were still full of the Christmas spirit." | "Being typical Northern Ireland, most people just stood around hoping they could get to where they were going. Many had been evacuated from the bars and pubs in the area and were still full of the Christmas spirit." |
| Belfast City council's emergency response department were at their Christmas dinner at a restaurant in St Anne's square when it was evacuated before their first course. | Belfast City council's emergency response department were at their Christmas dinner at a restaurant in St Anne's square when it was evacuated before their first course. |
| The 20-strong team immediately went to city hall and opened an evacuation centre. | The 20-strong team immediately went to city hall and opened an evacuation centre. |
| Leonie McDonagh from dance theatre company Ponydance had been due to perform at the MAC. | Leonie McDonagh from dance theatre company Ponydance had been due to perform at the MAC. |
| "We heard the bomb and saw some smoke, it sounded like a banger," she said. | "We heard the bomb and saw some smoke, it sounded like a banger," she said. |
| "We actually walked down a road that had been cordoned off as we needed to get our car to head to another show in the city." | "We actually walked down a road that had been cordoned off as we needed to get our car to head to another show in the city." |
| 'Senseless violence' | |
| Secretary of State Theresa Villiers said the attack was "absolutely deplorable". | Secretary of State Theresa Villiers said the attack was "absolutely deplorable". |
| "On one of busiest nights of the year, with people enjoying the festivities ahead of Christmas, as well as all those in the final stages of Christmas shopping, it shows that these terrorists are stooping to a new low," she said. | "On one of busiest nights of the year, with people enjoying the festivities ahead of Christmas, as well as all those in the final stages of Christmas shopping, it shows that these terrorists are stooping to a new low," she said. |
| "This small minority want to drain the economic life from Belfast - but we will not let them succeed." | "This small minority want to drain the economic life from Belfast - but we will not let them succeed." |
| Northern Ireland Justice Minister David Ford said: "Yet again we see a reckless attempt to kill and injure innocent people in Belfast. | |
| "The people carrying out these attacks have set out no reason and explained no cause for their acts of senseless violence. Their only aim seems to be to injure and disrupt." | |
| Sinn Féin's Gerry Kelly also condemned the attack. | Sinn Féin's Gerry Kelly also condemned the attack. |
| "This indiscriminate and reckless action was an attack on all the people of Belfast and those that had come into the city centre to shop or enjoy the build up to the festive holidays," he said. | "This indiscriminate and reckless action was an attack on all the people of Belfast and those that had come into the city centre to shop or enjoy the build up to the festive holidays," he said. |
| "Thankfully no one was hurt. Those that voice support for these groups, who's only allegiance is to violence, need to come forward and explain to the people what they aim to achieve by this reckless action." | "Thankfully no one was hurt. Those that voice support for these groups, who's only allegiance is to violence, need to come forward and explain to the people what they aim to achieve by this reckless action." |
| 'Anti-Belfast' | 'Anti-Belfast' |
| SDLP justice spokesman Alban Maginness said: "The Cathedral Quarter is a thriving centre for restaurants and bars and a popular spot for tourists and locals and was predictably busy on a Friday night so close to Christmas. | SDLP justice spokesman Alban Maginness said: "The Cathedral Quarter is a thriving centre for restaurants and bars and a popular spot for tourists and locals and was predictably busy on a Friday night so close to Christmas. |
| "Those who perpetrated this heinous act must know that they have no support from the people of Belfast. They are anti-Belfast." | "Those who perpetrated this heinous act must know that they have no support from the people of Belfast. They are anti-Belfast." |
| Assembly member Basil McCrea, leader of the NI21 party, tweeted: "Caught in bomb scare at St. Anne's Square. Part explosion. Christmas festivities in Cathedral quarter continue." | Assembly member Basil McCrea, leader of the NI21 party, tweeted: "Caught in bomb scare at St. Anne's Square. Part explosion. Christmas festivities in Cathedral quarter continue." |
| He later added: "To carry out such an act is verging on the incomprehensible. Murderous intent has been displayed and those responsible have no place in any civilised society." | He later added: "To carry out such an act is verging on the incomprehensible. Murderous intent has been displayed and those responsible have no place in any civilised society." |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
| Read the terms and conditions | Read the terms and conditions |