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Belfast bomb attack: family of five treated for shock Belfast bomb attack: family of five treated for shock
(35 minutes later)
Five members of a family were treated for shock after they were caught up in a bomb attack against police officers in west Belfast on Friday night.Five members of a family were treated for shock after they were caught up in a bomb attack against police officers in west Belfast on Friday night.
The family, including three children aged 16, 13 and 11, were in their car when the bomb was thrown at a police mobile patrol close to a cemetery on the Whiterock Road shortly after 10.30pm.The family, including three children aged 16, 13 and 11, were in their car when the bomb was thrown at a police mobile patrol close to a cemetery on the Whiterock Road shortly after 10.30pm.
Sinn Féin said dissident republicans were behind the attack and condemned them, saying they could have killed people.Sinn Féin said dissident republicans were behind the attack and condemned them, saying they could have killed people.
The party's 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."The party's 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."
Maskey also criticised the police for leaving the scene of the attack. He said the family caught up in it were left for more than an hour.Maskey also criticised the police for leaving the scene of the attack. He said the family caught up in it were left for more than an hour.
But the Police Federation of Northern Ireland – the body representing rank-and-file officers in the region – warned of more possible dissident attacks in the next few days.But the Police Federation of Northern Ireland – the body representing rank-and-file officers in the region – warned of more possible dissident attacks in the next few days.
The federation's chairman, Terry Spence, said: "Police officers and the public must remain vigilant as it is the obvious intention of desperate dissident republicans to attract a headline in the runup to St Patrick's Day."The federation's chairman, Terry Spence, said: "Police officers and the public must remain vigilant as it is the obvious intention of desperate dissident republicans to attract a headline in the runup to St Patrick's Day."
An SDLP councillor in west Belfast, Colin Keenan, also denounced those behind the attack.An SDLP councillor in west Belfast, Colin Keenan, also denounced those behind the attack.
He said: "Sadly those who came to greatest risk of injury in the attack were a Filipino family whose car was following the Police Land Rover.He said: "Sadly those who came to greatest risk of injury in the attack were a Filipino family whose car was following the Police Land Rover.
"I want to express my solidarity with them. This must have been a very frightening experience for them and I have no doubt the wider community will rally behind them."I want to express my solidarity with them. This must have been a very frightening experience for them and I have no doubt the wider community will rally behind them.
"That your personal safety is at risk in Northern Ireland is not the message we want to be sending to the wider world, especially on a weekend of global celebration of Irish identity.""That your personal safety is at risk in Northern Ireland is not the message we want to be sending to the wider world, especially on a weekend of global celebration of Irish identity."
Meanwhile, the Police Service of Northern Ireland are treating the death of a man at a flat in north Belfast as murder. He was found in the early hours of Saturday morning at the property in Ardoyne Place.Meanwhile, the Police Service of Northern Ireland are treating the death of a man at a flat in north Belfast as murder. He was found in the early hours of Saturday morning at the property in Ardoyne Place.
Friday night's attack came just hours a after police discovered a booby trap bomb device underneath a car also in west Belfast.