Loyalists blamed for pipe bombs find

Loyalist paramilitaries were tonight being blamed for leaving a substantial amount of deadly home-made explosives in a recreational…

Loyalist paramilitaries were tonight being blamed for leaving a substantial amount of deadly home-made explosives in a recreational area of north Belfast.

Five primed pipe bombs and a coffee jar device were discovered by police officers in the loyalist Ballysillan area.

A total of 300 rounds of assorted ammunition were also found during the search of Ballysillan Playing Fields.

The police are describing the find, made late last night, as "significant". No arrests have been made.

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A number of items have been removed by the security forces for forensic examination.

More than 140 pipe bombs have been targeted against Catholic homes throughout Northern Ireland in a campaign which has been blamed on loyalist terror groups opposed to the peace process.

North Belfast has been the scene of some of the worst sectarian violence in recent weeks, with a number of shots being fired by loyalists at the security forces.

PA