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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| 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 sports shop in Cornmarket. | |
| Staff removed it from the premises and left it outside. Army bomb disposal officers were then called to examine the incendiary device. | |
| A police cordon was lifted at about 22:30 GMT and the alert is now over. Traders have been advised to check their premises for 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' |
| Incendiary devices were used widely by paramilitaries during the Troubles to disrupt trade in Northern Ireland but the tactic has been rarely in recent years. | |
| Glyn Roberts, chief executive of the Northern Ireland Retail Trade Association, said: "There is absolute utter disgust that yet again Belfast city centre is in the headlines for the wrong reasons. | |
| "I think a message needs to go out to the people who plant these bombs - you simply will not win, you're not going to ruin our town centre and you're not going to ruin Christmas." | |
| 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. |
| Anna Lo from the Alliance party said: "I am sickened that yet again lives have been put at risk by the mindless actions of these callous and evil individuals. | |
| "There is no place in our society for those who wish to bring death, injury and destruction to our streets." |