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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 sports shop in Belfast city centre. | |
The store owner has told the BBC he saw a man in the shop who had an incendiary device in his coat pocket which ignited, setting the coat on fire. | |
The shop owner, Nick Pierpoint, said the man then dropped the fire bomb and ran out of the store, passing shoppers with his clothing in flames. | |
It happened at about 18:40 GMT at the Golf Madness store in Cornmarket. | |
The area was then evacuated while Army bomb disposal officers examined the device. | |
The security operation, which lasted almost four hours, ended at about 22:30 GMT when the police cordon was lifted. | |
Officers have advised businesses to check city centre premises for any suspicious objects. | |
The fire bomb attack follows two small bomb explosions in the city centre within the past four weeks. | |
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. | 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. | 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." | "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. | 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." | "There is no place in our society for those who wish to bring death, injury and destruction to our streets." |