A Catholic family was today targeted in a pipe bomb attack for the second time in four days. The device exploded in the front garden of their house on the Knockmore Estate in Lisburn, Co Antrim.
The bomb had been packed with around a dozen three-inch nails and debris from the blast was hurled across the road where it damaged a neighbour's car.
RUC sub-divisional commander for the area Chief Insp Ken Henning said the bombing was a "worrying development" for Lisburn, which had been unaffected by the recent pipe bomb attacks across Northern Ireland.
Alliance Party deputy leader Mr Seamus Close condemned the attack saying: "Whatever the warped excuse for throwing or placing such a device, I condemn it without reservation."
The Assembly member, who lives close by and was woken by the early morning blast, said: "There is no reason that can justify these thugs and gangsters trying to cause damage to individuals."
Local Ulster Unionist MP Mr Jeffrey Donaldson also condemned the bombers. "Those who carried out this attack will be condemned by all reasonable people and they have no place in our society. This kind of evil attack does nothing to advance any cause whatsoever."
Parts of the pipe bomb have been removed for examination by British army bomb disposal experts.
British army bomb disposal experts are also examining pipe-bombs, fire arms and amunition discovered in Colereine Co Derry today. PA