CCTV FOOTAGE HAS been released that shows the incident in which an explosive device was thrown at the home of former Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams.
Adams’ home was attacked over the weekend, as was the home of party member Bobby Storey.
He has said that his grandchildren had been playing in the driveway of his home shortly before the attack and that he is thankful no one was injured.
The attacks both occurred in west Belfast and follow a number of nights of unrest in Derry believed to involve dissident republicans. Adams said he does not know if that the attack on his home was connected to that violence but that it may be.
Speaking to reporters on Saturday morning, the Louth TD said that he would like to sit down and speak to those involved in the attack to determine their motive.
“Those who were involved in the attack, if they have the gumption to sneak on our home, I’d ask them, and if they have representatives, to come and meet me. I’d like them and their representatives to explain what it was all about,” he said.
Adams said there are those who have been “resistant to change” who have threatened his party colleagues in the past.
Sinn Féin has said that the attacks on the homes of Adams and Storey involved the use of “explosive devices” with party MLA Gerry Kelly saying that children had been nearby not long beforehand.
“These were reprehensible and cowardly attacks on the family homes of Gerry Adams and Bobby Storey. Grandchildren were in the driveway of Adams’ home minutes before the attack,” Kelly said.
Rally
Sinn Féin is holding a rally in West Belfast at 7pm this evening, at the site of the old Andersonstown Barracks, in light of the attacks.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald will be the main speaker at the event and Adams and Storey will be at the event, according to the party.
“The attacks involving explosive devices on the homes of Gerry Adams and Bobby Storey were cowardly and reprehensible,” West Belfast MLA Pat Sheehan said.
“Sinn Féin will continue to represent this community and pursue our agenda for change, for peace and for a new agreed and united Ireland,” he said.
“[Tonight's] rally is an opportunity for the people of Belfast to come out to show solidarity with the families of Gerry Adams and Bobby Storey and the people of the Bogside in Derry and send a message to those involved in attacks on Republicans and on the community to stop immediately.”
PSNI officers in west Belfast said on Friday night they were dealing with two separate incidents in the area.
Pictures from the scene of the attack on Adams’ home shows damage to a car in the driveway.
With reporting by Ronan Duffy.
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