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Belfast police targeted in blast bomb attack Belfast police targeted in blast bomb attack
(about 9 hours later)
Police have escaped injury in a blast bomb attack in west Belfast, which caused an explosion that was heard across the city. A family of five were caught up in a bomb attack on a police patrol on the Falls Road in west Belfast on Friday night.
The bomb was thrown at a police vehicle at about 22:30 GMT on the Falls Road close to the City Cemetery. The Filipino family with children aged 16, 13 and 11 were in their car, when a blast bomb was thrown at a passing police patrol in the area.
No-one was injured in the attack, but a car carrying a family who were driving by was hit by shrapnel and a chunk was blown out of the cemetery wall. The family was treated for shock, but no-one was injured in the attack. The family's car was slightly damaged.
Paramedics treated up to four people for shock at the scene. The blast blew a chunk of masonry out of the wall of the City Cemetery.
West Belfast MP Paul Maskey said a family with young children had been caught up in what he said was a "reckless attack". The bomb was thrown at about 22:30 GMT.
"I have to condemn whoever carried this out. I am sure it is dissident republicans. They should be ashamed of themselves. We are very lucky this young family is not hurt or dead," he said. Sinn Fein blamed dissident republicans and condemned them, saying they could have killed people.
West Belfast MP Paul Maskey said: "I have to condemn whoever carried this out. I am sure it is dissident republicans. They should be ashamed of themselves. We are very lucky this young family is not hurt or dead.
Mr Maskey also criticised the police for leaving the scene of the attack. He said the family who were also caught up in it, were left for more than an hour.Mr Maskey also criticised the police for leaving the scene of the attack. He said the family who were also caught up in it, were left for more than an hour.
'No justification''No justification'
A police spokesman said: "Police in west Belfast have escaped serious injury tonight after an explosive device detonated close to their vehicle on the Falls Road.A police spokesman said: "Police in west Belfast have escaped serious injury tonight after an explosive device detonated close to their vehicle on the Falls Road.
"It is believed some form of explosive device was thrown at their vehicle.""It is believed some form of explosive device was thrown at their vehicle."
Stewart Dickson, justice spokesman for the Alliance Party, said there could be no justification for the attack.Stewart Dickson, justice spokesman for the Alliance Party, said there could be no justification for the attack.
He said: "These people have no regards for the consequences of their actions. They do not care if police officers or members of the public are killed.He said: "These people have no regards for the consequences of their actions. They do not care if police officers or members of the public are killed.
"The vast majority of the public fully support the police and are opposed to the actions of those behind this attack.""The vast majority of the public fully support the police and are opposed to the actions of those behind this attack."
Ulster Unionist Policing Board member Ross Hussey said: "I am disgusted to hear of the cowardly blast bomb attack on the PSNI in Belfast. I am relieved that officers and passers-by weren't injured."
SDLP councillor Claire Hanna tweeted: "Throwback terrorists reduced to trying to embarrass Northern Ireland over St Patrick's. Get off our backs."