THE loyalist paramilitary group, the Red Hand Commando, was held responsible last night for the attempted bombing of Sinn Fein offices in New Lodge, Belfast.
Amid concern that the loyalist ceasefire had ended, there was mixed reaction to remarks by Dr Mo Mowlam of the British Labour Party that Sinn Fein could be in talks by June 3rd if there was an immediate IRA ceasefire.
The Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Patrick Mayhew, criticised the IRA and loyalists for separate attacks in Armagh and Belfast saying they "still relied upon death and destruction to secure what they want in this democracy".
The Sinn Fein leader, Mr Gerry Adams, said he was thankful no one was hurt in the New Lodge attack. He was also encouraged by Dr Mowlam's remarks. She said there was a "high possibility" Sinn Fein could enter talks on June 3rd if the IRA laid down its arms now.
The SDLP leader, Mr John Hume, said: "I don't see any great difference between what Mo Mowlam has said and what the British government have said." He called on the IRA "to respond to what the mass of the Irish people are saying at home and abroad which is, have an unequivocal restoration of your ceasefire".
Sir Patrick condemned the attacks: "The Provisional IRA has delivered their Easter message. A policeman is seriously injured and if the terrorists had their way, he would be dead. A large bomb, now made safe by the security forces was also designed to murder as was the loyalist bomb at the New Lodge."
At 6.30 a.m. yesterday several families were evacuated from their homes in Lepper Street, New Lodge, while security forces conducted a controlled explosion on a suspect vehicle outside a Sinn Fein office.
A security source claimed army bomb disposal experts defused the device within minutes of it exploding.
It is understood a taxi driver on Shankill Road was held at gunpoint and had his car stolen. Much of the 90 lbs of homemade explosives, packed into beer kegs, was yesterday strewn across the pavement in Lepper Street following the blast. The device was linked to a commercial explosive booster charge.
RUC Sub divisional Commander for the North Queen's Street area, Mr David Matchett, said the attack was a "wicked outrage" which threatened the lives of hundreds of people, including police and soldiers.
Responsible people will acknowledge that but for the efficiency in clearing the area and the expertise of the bomb disposal experts, the whole community would have endured yet more unnecessary misery and suffering," he said.
Mr Adams said: "Sinn Fein's intention is to bring to an end all of those armed actions." He said the loyalist attack exposed the double standards applied.
Meanwhile, last night, the IRA admitted carrying out the sniper attack in south Armagh on Saturday night in which a policeman was seriously injured.
The officer was hit in the leg by a single shot shortly after 11.30 p.m. on Saturday after leaving Forkhill RUC station in a joint police/army foot patrol.
The RUC officer was rushed to hospital with injuries to his upper right leg. His condition is described as "serious but stable".
A police spokeswoman last night revealed the attack had probably been carried out from the Carrickasticken Road in Forkhill. A house had been taken over by armed and masked men shortly after 8 p.m. on Saturday and the occupants were held hostage until after the attack.
Local SDLP councillor in Forkhill, Mr Pat Toner, asked what good it was trying to kill people to help the country towards peace.
Earlier on Saturday an RUC search of the Blackstaff Road near Ballykinlar army base in Co Down discovered 1,000lbs of homemade explosives packed into fertiliser bags. Nearby was another bag containing "ancillary equipment" capable of priming and detonating the bomb.
Police also found a scrambler motorcycle and two helmets as well as an AK47 assault rifle with magazines.
RUC Supt Sam Martin said: "The bomb was sited at a dip or bend in the road where traffic would be forced to slow down. It would have been capable of causing the most appalling injuries or death to any passer by."
Meanwhile, army technical officers in Downpatrick, Co Down, carried out a controlled explosion on a suspicious van in a car park at St Patrick's Avenue. A motorcycle found in the van has been taken away for forensic examination. The alert, which began around 10 a.m. on Saturday, was cleared at 6 p.m.
A man was taken to hospital in Belfast last night after he was shot in the hand and leg outside the Lower Falls Social and Recreation Centre. The man was injured, but not seriously, after a scuffle outside the club. It is understood the shooting was not sectarian.