Unionists tighten security after mail bomb blast
Ulster Unionist Party members were reviewing their security tonight after a mail bomb sent to leader David Trimble partially exploded.
The package, which had been posted to party headquarters on the outskirts of east Belfast, was being opened by a senior aide to the former Northern Ireland First Minister when there was a flash and flames shot out.
Army bomb disposal experts later made safe the device – a video cassette inside a Jiffy Bag.
No one was injured in the explosion, but a Police Service of Northern Ireland spokeswoman said: “It could have caused serious injury had it exploded completely.”
The PSNI declined to say who they thought responsible for the bomb, but dissident republicans were considered the most likely.
Northern Ireland Secretary Paul Murphy branded the bombing “a clear attempt to kill or to maim.”
Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Murphy added: “It is a salutary reminder to us all of what we are trying to achieve in Northern Ireland.
“Attacks like this and the one some weeks ago on the offices of Nigel Dodds (North Belfast DUP MP) only make us more determined to see a complete and unambiguous end to paramilitary activity.”
Mr Trimble said: “We are glad no one was hurt, but it caused a degree of disruption and was obviously a bit of an ordeal for staff at headquarters.”
Playing down the incident, the Upper Bann MP – who was not present at the time of the blast – added: “ It is a matter of concern but at the same time I don’t want to attach too much significance to it.”
The package, addressed to Mr Trimble, was being opened by senior aide Steven King when it went off.
“It would appear to have been a rather crude device but Stephen and the other staff reacted pretty coolly,” said the unionist leader.
One of Mr Trimble’s closest aides, David McNarry, was present in the room where the device ignited.
Mr McNarry said: “We were going through our normal routine of opening the mail and as a member of staff who I was sitting beside was opening a Jiffy Bag and pulling out a cassette, he said: ‘What’s this?’
“I can say that there seemed to be on the front of the envelope a Church of Ireland (Anglican) reference and logo. Therefore the person opening it seemed to think this was just some kind of promotion material.
“But as he opened it there was a flame which shot out. He dropped it and we immediately evacuated.
“The incendiary device, if that’s what it was, seemed to self extinguish.”
He said people had been shaken but insisted: “Whoever is behind this didn’t achieve anything. We are back in business, politics and political life goes on.”
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern condemned the blast.
He said: “Naturally I condemn that totally, and my concern and sympathy is with people in the head office.
“Any of these events must be condemned in the strongest possible way.”
The chairman of the nationalist SDLP’s Assembly Group, Eamonn O’Neill, also condemned those responsible insisting no political party should be targeted.
“It is fortunate that no-one was seriously hurt in this attack today,” he said.
“There will always be factions who will take advantage of any political deadlock to exploit their malicious motives. Actions like these only increase bitterness and hold us all back from making progress.”
A Sinn Fein councillor said it was important in the wake of the incident to prove politics could work.
East Belfast councillor Joe O’Donnell said: “The exact circumstances of this incident are obviously still unclear.
“However, the people who carried out this attack, from wherever they come, are opposed to the peace process and opposed to the Good Friday Agreement.
“It is incumbent on all of us in political leadership to continue to make it clear that politics can and will be allowed to work.”
