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25/11/2013
Bomb Partially Explodes In Belfast City Centre
Police have said a bomb has partially exploded inside a car in Belfast city centre.
The explosion happened around 11.15pm on Sunday night outside the Victoria Square shopping centre, but the security alert had been underway since 9.30pm.
The car used in the incident, a Renault Laguna, is understood to have been hijacked by masked men in the Jamaica Street area of the north of the city. The device was placed inside the car and the driver was ordered to take it to the retail centre.
An alarm was raised and homes and business premises in the area were evacuated.
No injuries have been reported. Police said the bomb contained 60kgs (132lbs) of home-made explosives. Dissident republicans are being blamed for the incident.
Police have said roads around the area will remain closed for a number of hours.
The incident has also caused traffic chaos in the city on Monday morning rush-hour.
Condemning the attack, Justice Minister David Ford said: "Those responsible for this attack have shown a total disregard for life, including that of the driver they forced to carry the device."
Detectives have appealed to anyone with information about the incident - particularly about the movements of the hijacked car - to contact them, either directly or anonymously through Crimestoppers. The vehicle in question is a silver-coloured Renault Laguna, registration number CJZ 4697.
(JP/CD)
The explosion happened around 11.15pm on Sunday night outside the Victoria Square shopping centre, but the security alert had been underway since 9.30pm.
The car used in the incident, a Renault Laguna, is understood to have been hijacked by masked men in the Jamaica Street area of the north of the city. The device was placed inside the car and the driver was ordered to take it to the retail centre.
An alarm was raised and homes and business premises in the area were evacuated.
No injuries have been reported. Police said the bomb contained 60kgs (132lbs) of home-made explosives. Dissident republicans are being blamed for the incident.
Police have said roads around the area will remain closed for a number of hours.
The incident has also caused traffic chaos in the city on Monday morning rush-hour.
Condemning the attack, Justice Minister David Ford said: "Those responsible for this attack have shown a total disregard for life, including that of the driver they forced to carry the device."
Detectives have appealed to anyone with information about the incident - particularly about the movements of the hijacked car - to contact them, either directly or anonymously through Crimestoppers. The vehicle in question is a silver-coloured Renault Laguna, registration number CJZ 4697.
(JP/CD)
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