Northern Ireland

Soldier target of booby-trap bomb

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A soldier has had a lucky escape after spotting a booby-trap bomb in a car as he cleaned it in Belfast.

The soldier - understood to be from Scotland and only in Northern Ireland to visit his girlfriend - found the device under the driver's seat in Ligoniel in the north of the city yesterday (Thursday).

Dissident republicans claim they planted it. Army bomb disposal experts later carried out a controlled explosion after removing it.

The Democratic Unionist MP for the area, Nigel Dodds, said the soldier's vigilance helped avoid loss of life.

"It is an absolutely appalling incident," said Mr Dodds.

"This was a viable device. It was designed and targeted to kill a particular target, it has emerged now, a serving soldier."

The Oglaigh na hEireann group claimed the attack and said the bomb was connected to the car's seat belt.

Residents were evacuated from their homes for most of the day as Army bomb disposal experts examined the car.

Sinn Fein Assembly member for North Belfast Gerry Kelly has also condemned the attack.

He said: ""Those behind it need to realise that there is no support for this and the community rejects the groups behind such attacks. Their actions are outdated and will serve no furthering of any political agenda or otherwise.

"The people of Ireland have overwhelmingly endorsed the peace process and it is high time such groups caught up with this."