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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Fire bomb ignites in Belfast city centre shop | Fire bomb ignites in Belfast city centre shop |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A fire bomb has ignited in a shop in Belfast city centre. | A fire bomb has ignited in a shop in Belfast city centre. |
| It happened at about 18:40 GMT, when the incendiary device was left at a shop in Cornmarket. Staff removed it from the premises and left it outside. | It happened at about 18:40 GMT, when the incendiary device was left at a shop in Cornmarket. Staff removed it from the premises and left it outside. |
| Army bomb disposal officers have been called to examine the incendiary device and police have cordoned off the Cornmarket area. | Army bomb disposal officers have been called to examine the incendiary device and police have cordoned off the Cornmarket area. |
| Officers have advised city centre businesses to check their premises for any suspicious objects. | Officers have advised city centre businesses to check their premises for any suspicious objects. |
| Security operation | Security operation |
| One eyewitness said the police appeared to be examining a cardboard box that has been left outside a sports shop. | One eyewitness said the police appeared to be examining a cardboard box that has been left outside a sports shop. |
| The fire bomb attack follows two small bomb explosions in the city centre within the past month. | The fire bomb attack follows two small bomb explosions in the city centre within the past month. |
| Police mounted an extensive security operation after a car bomb partially exploded outside Victoria Square shopping centre on 24 November. | Police mounted an extensive security operation after a car bomb partially exploded outside Victoria Square shopping centre on 24 November. |
| Last Friday night, a small bomb placed inside a holdall detonated in Belfast's Cathedral Quarter as police were clearing members of the public from the area. | Last Friday night, a small bomb placed inside a holdall detonated in Belfast's Cathedral Quarter as police were clearing members of the public from the area. |
| No-one was injured in either of the bombings, which were blamed on dissident republican paramilitaries. | No-one was injured in either of the bombings, which were blamed on dissident republican paramilitaries. |
| 'Reckless' | 'Reckless' |
| Alban Maginness from the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) said: "It beggars belief that following the placing of a bomb in the Cathedral Quarter on Friday night that Belfast would be faced with yet another attempted act of wanton destruction. | Alban Maginness from the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) said: "It beggars belief that following the placing of a bomb in the Cathedral Quarter on Friday night that Belfast would be faced with yet another attempted act of wanton destruction. |
| "To place an incendiary device in a busy shopping area is both reckless and irresponsible and serves no rational purpose. | "To place an incendiary device in a busy shopping area is both reckless and irresponsible and serves no rational purpose. |
| "Those behind this incendiary device are anti-Belfast and just want to threaten jobs, livelihoods and people's enjoyment of our city. They must not be permitted to prevail," he added. | "Those behind this incendiary device are anti-Belfast and just want to threaten jobs, livelihoods and people's enjoyment of our city. They must not be permitted to prevail," he added. |