POLICE OFFICERS AND residents have experienced a lucky escape after a military-style hand grenade failed to explode.
This happened yesterday evening in the Short Strand area of Belfast which is still closed to traffic.
Police officers were in the area responding to reports from local residents of anti-social behaviour.
Arriving to the Pottingers Quay area of Short Strand, the device was thrown at officers at around 10.15pm.
Thankfully, it failed to explode, meaning nobody was injured and no property damaged.
A number of residents were evacuated from their homes so a specialist team could make the device safe.
Speaking about the incident, Superintendent Bobby Singleton of Belfast City Policing District, said, “Those who carried out this attack showed a total disregard for the safety of the local community and worryingly for the second time in as many days young people who were in the vicinity at the time of the attack.
It is only by sheer good fortune that we do not have a fatality on our hands as this attack occurred in a built up residential area.
This is the second terrorist attack in 48 hours in Belfast and follows on from a security alert in Omagh earlier today following the discovery of a suspicious object.
“Thankfully, on both occasions, they failed but I would appeal to people to remain vigilant and appeal to everyone in the community to continue to work with police by providing information to us so we can keep everyone safe,” Singleton went on.
Anyone with any information about the attacks is asked to contact detectives at Ladas Drive on 101 or independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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