Post by Frenchie on Oct 22, 2009 14:52:55 GMT 1
Police are investigating reports of an explosion near a Territorial Army base in north Belfast.
Police said members of the public reported hearing a bang in the Ashfield Crescent area off the Antrim Road between 0130-0200 BST on Thursday.
The area has been cordoned off while a suspect pipebomb device, which may have been thrown at the base, is examined by Army technical experts.
There are no reports of any injuries or damage.
Forensic officers are examining an area outside the perimeter of the base.
The Army would not say how many people were in the base at the time of the attack.
However, a MoD spokesman said that "there were guards on the base" on Thursday.
According to the MoD website, The North Irish Horse, a Royal Armoured Corp unit, is based at the Dunmore Park Camp.
'Escalation'
The website also says soldiers from the regiment train at the base most Wednesdays.
North Belfast Sinn Fein councillor Tierna Cunningham said the apparent bomb attack was "reckless and endangered families living nearby".
The area's DUP MP Nigel Dodds said north Belfast had "witnessed an escalation of dissident republican terrorist activity".
North Belfast DUP councillor Ian Crozier who lives in the area, said he heard the explosion at about 0130 BST.
"I heard an almighty bang early this morning. Apparently a bomb of some sort was thrown over the fence of the barracks.
"Thankfully nobody was hurt."
There has been an increase in security across Northern Ireland following a number of recent incidents blamed on dissident republicans, who oppose the peace process.
Last Friday, a police officer's partner was injured when a bomb exploded under her car in east Belfast.
In September, the dissident republican Real IRA admitted leaving bombs outside the homes of relatives of a police officer in Londonderry.
Police said members of the public reported hearing a bang in the Ashfield Crescent area off the Antrim Road between 0130-0200 BST on Thursday.
The area has been cordoned off while a suspect pipebomb device, which may have been thrown at the base, is examined by Army technical experts.
There are no reports of any injuries or damage.
Forensic officers are examining an area outside the perimeter of the base.
The Army would not say how many people were in the base at the time of the attack.
However, a MoD spokesman said that "there were guards on the base" on Thursday.
According to the MoD website, The North Irish Horse, a Royal Armoured Corp unit, is based at the Dunmore Park Camp.
'Escalation'
The website also says soldiers from the regiment train at the base most Wednesdays.
North Belfast Sinn Fein councillor Tierna Cunningham said the apparent bomb attack was "reckless and endangered families living nearby".
The area's DUP MP Nigel Dodds said north Belfast had "witnessed an escalation of dissident republican terrorist activity".
North Belfast DUP councillor Ian Crozier who lives in the area, said he heard the explosion at about 0130 BST.
"I heard an almighty bang early this morning. Apparently a bomb of some sort was thrown over the fence of the barracks.
"Thankfully nobody was hurt."
There has been an increase in security across Northern Ireland following a number of recent incidents blamed on dissident republicans, who oppose the peace process.
Last Friday, a police officer's partner was injured when a bomb exploded under her car in east Belfast.
In September, the dissident republican Real IRA admitted leaving bombs outside the homes of relatives of a police officer in Londonderry.