A booby-trap bomb attack that targeted a British soldier in Belfast has been condemned today.
The device was discovered under the driver’s seat of a car, with dissident republicans later claiming the murder bid.
Army bomb experts are examining the device after removing it following an alert in Ligoniel in the north of the city.
Some 30 homes were evacuated while experts dealt with the bomb.
The Óglaigh na hÉireann group claimed the attack and said the bomb was connected to the car’s seat belt.
Security forces said it was a viable device.
The security alert was triggered in the Blackdam Court area yesterday morning after reports of a suspicious object in the vehicle. Residents were out of their homes for most of the day as Army bomb disposal experts examined the car.
The officers carried out a controlled explosion on the object, and it was taken away for further examination.
Sinn Féin MLA for North Belfast Gerry Kelly condemned the murder attempt.
“This attack was reckless and those who behind need to bear the responsibility of endangering the people of North Belfast,” he said. “It is my understanding that this car travelled around north Belfast, and was in Ligoniel before this bomb was discovered. It has left this community vulnerable to injury or worse had the bomb gone off.
“Those behind it need to realise that there is no support for this and the community rejects the groups behind such attacks. Their actions are outdated and will serve no furthering of any political agenda or otherwise. The people of Ireland had overwhelming endorsed the peace process and it is high time such groups caught up with this.”
The Democratic Unionist MP for the area, Nigel Dodds, said the soldier’s vigilance helped avoid loss of life.
“It is an absolutely appalling incident,” said Mr Dodds. “This was a viable device. It was designed and targeted to kill a particular target, it has emerged now, a serving soldier.”
Mr Dodds said the incident was a reckless attack, aimed at killing the soldier, but also disregarding any risk to the public in a residential area.
Mr Dodds told the BBC that dissident groups represented no one. “These people can achieve nothing by this activity,” he said.