Dissident republicans may have been behind two blazes at tyre depots in Co Tyrone. Up to 10 staff may lose their jobs at the stores in Dungannon damaged by suspected arson attacks.
If shown to be arson, the incidents could be the latest in a week of attacks from republican dissidents including a bomb attack on the Co Louth property of Lord Ballyedmond, better known as former senator and businessman Edward Haughey.
Gardaí now believe the 31kg (70lb) bomb found at the house at Dungooley on Tuesday had been there for about 10 days.
They are working on the theory that those behind it intended to detonate it on August 9th - but failed - at the same time as devices exploded in nine Newry shops causing millions of pounds worth of fire damage.
Gardaí believe those behind the Dungooley bomb left it at the house because they feared it would explode if they tried to move it.
In the latest incident, firefighters were called to Scotch Street and Ballygawley Road in Dungannon just before 5am yesterday. Some residents were asked to leave their homes due to the threat from poisonous fumes and asbestos.
Businessman Philip White, whose other businesses in Armagh have already been attacked, said he was "devastated". He estimated the damage at £500,000 (€724,000).
Fire service area commander Ian Doyle said the fact the fires broke out at the same time pointed to arson.
If links to dissidents are established, the fires are the latest in a series of attacks in the south Down and south Armagh Border region in the past week in which Newry stores were destroyed and the Belfast-Dublin railway link disrupted.
The bomb attack on Lord Ballyedmond's property at Hackballscross was condemned yesterday by the Ulster Unionists and by Northern Ireland Office minister David Hanson.
"This was a cowardly attack on someone who has worked tirelessly to create jobs and bring investment into Northern Ireland," he said. "His efforts to promote Northern Ireland on an international stage contrast sharply with those who left this device at his home and who want to drag us back to the past. Their actions will not succeed."
Ulster Unionist deputy leader Danny Kennedy said the planting of the bomb was a very worrying case of attempted murder.
The Newry and Armagh Assembly member said: "As one of the largest private employers in the Newry area, this attack is proof that there are some people who are not prepared to tolerate an industrialist of Eddie's stature bringing economic prosperity to the area."