Sinn Fein MLA Gerry Kelly

SINN Fein MLA Gerry Kelly says a lethal under car bomb discovered in north Belfast yesterday had been “kicked up the street by a young boy”.

The device was discovered around lunchtime on Thursday in Linden Gardens in the Cliftonville Road area.

Homes were evacuated after an off-duty police officer called into the area to examine it raise alarm with the PSNI.

Last night, Army Technical Officers carried out a controlled explosion on the device and declared it as a deadly under car booby trap bomb (UCBT).

Said Gerry Kelly: “We could have been dealing with a child being killed here.

“I condemn it absolutely. Not only is there no support, but there is absolute opposition to whoever is doing this.”

Dissident republicans are getting the blame but police are still trying to work out the intended target.

A security sourced told Belfast Daily: “Somebody has had a lucky escape.”

Detective Chief Inspector Richard Campbell of the PSNI’s Serious Crime Branch said: “At this stage police believe that this could have been an under car booby trap which was designed to kill or maim.”

Added DCI Campbell: “I utterly condemn this incident.

“Those responsible have no qualms about putting people’s lives at risk and causing disruption to the community.

“There is no doubt that this device had the potential to cause serious injury or death.”