Loyalist paramilitaries who crashed a fork lift truck into a Belfast pub tried to murder staff and customers, it was claimed today.
Windows were smashed and structural damage caused to the Thirty Two Degrees North pub on the Crumlin Road as the vehicle smashed into the building.
The mechanical digger outside the 32 Degrees pub on the Crumlin Road in Belfast
SDLP Councillor Mr Martin Morgan said the attack was reckless and designed to inflict death or serious injury.
"I have no doubt that the loyalist hooligans responsible for this attack set out to heighten tensions in the area between the two communities.
"I am calling for people in my community to remain calm in the face of this aggression," he added.
Sinn Fein councillor Ms Margaret McClenaghan, who visited the scene, said she had no doubt loyalists were behind the incident, which happened at around 12.45 a.m.
"The motive behind this was very clear. It was a sectarian attack and it was attempted murder on the staff and the customers of that pub.
"It was carried out by the UDA. There have been many attacks over the last few weeks in different areas across the north of the city.
"This was the most serious and it is by the grace of God that nobody was killed there last night."
A fire started after the telescopic fork lift truck struck the pub but it was quickly put out by firefighters.
Staff and customers managed to get out without being injured but were in a state of shock.
Ms McClenaghan said she believed the truck was driven from a building site at nearby Twaddell Avenue.
"The bucket part of the digger was packed with slates and burning wood. There was also a very strong smell of petrol. When that impacted on the building, the steel shutter of the bar was wrecked.
"There were at least 50 to 60 adults at Twaddell Avenue who began throwing missiles towards the bar.
"This was a well organised plan to cause as much death and damage as they possibly could," she added.
Staff from the Building Control department of Belfast City Council were assessing the damage and seeing if the vehicle could safely be reversed from the building.
Police said a large crowd had gathered outside the pub after the attack but calm was restored with the help of community representatives.
PA