Members of policing oversight bodies in Northern Ireland were targeted by hoax incendiary bombs found in the North's main Royal Mail sorting office, it was revealed today.
Staff at the Mallusk plant outside Belfast were forced to evacuate the sorting office last night when a suspect device was found in the mail.
Army bomb disposal experts were called in and a search made of the premises, during which three more packages were found. They were all later declared to be elaborate hoaxes.
The packages had been addressed to members of District Policing Partnerships in the north west of the province.
The DPPs were established under policing reforms to give local people a say in local policing. They have been opposed by republicans and dissidents have been behind a continuing campaign of intimidation against members.
Elsewhere, a device exploded at a police station in Co Armagh last night.
The device was thrown over a back gate at the barracks in Lurgan but caused no damage. No injuries were reported.
PA