A 34-year-old man appeared in court today charged in connection with a bid to launch a major fire bomb attack on Belfast city centre at the weekend.
Mr Terence McCafferty was cheered by supporters in the public gallery when he was remanded in custody at Belfast Magistrates Court until December 18th.
He was charged with conspiring with another to unlawfully and maliciously cause an explosion likely to endanger life or cause serious damage to property on November 24th.
Mr McCafferty, of Dill House in the New Lodge area of the city, was further charged with possession of an improvised explosive device on the same date.
The court heard that when charged, he made no reply, but his solicitor said Mr McCafferty denied the charges.
He was arrested after a major security operation in Belfast city centre on Sunday night during which a second man was shot by police. The Ombudsman Ms Nuala O'Loan is investigating the shooting.
PA