Loyalist group vows to step up terror campaign

Loyalist paramilitaries have warned they will step up their terror campaign.

Loyalist paramilitaries have warned they will step up their terror campaign.

The Red Hand Defenders made the threat following a pipe bomb at offices used by Martin McGuinness.

The group has also admitted planting a booby trap device under a former republican prisoner's van in Armagh.

Mr McGuinness was on holiday when the RUC cleared around 40 buildings in the Burn Road area of Cookstown, Co Tyrone.

Police confirm that a crude pipe bomb was discovered and dealt with by Army explosives experts.

They also disclosed that a mercury tilt switch had been fitted to the device found under the vehicle at Ashley Avenue, Armagh. It is the first time such a device has been used in Ulster for some time.

The Red Hand Defenders sparked a wave of revulsion when it admitted murdering Protestant teenager Gavin Brett in Glengormley, Co Antrim last month.

And after claiming to have planted the latest two devices it vowed: "Our campaign will increase."

Earlier, a little known group calling itself the Loyalist Action Force said it was responsible for the Cookstown device.

A third alert took place in Derry where the Foyle Bridge was sealed off because of a bomb warning.

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