Army technical officers defuse pipe bomb device found in Spamount Street in north Belfast

DISSIDENT republicans are being blamed for a leaving a deadly pipe bomb in north Belfast on Monday.

The device was discovered at Spamount Street in the New Lodge area.

Police sealed off the area and tasked Army Technical Officers to scene to examine a “suspicious object”.

As a result police closed Spamount Street while the object was examined a number of people were moved from their homes.

Following the examination, the ATO said it had made safe a pipe bomb device.

Those evacuated from their homes were later allowed to return once the device was made safe.

All roads in the area were later re-opened.

Detectives from the PSNI’s Serious Crime Branch have appealed for anyone with any information about the incident, or spotted any suspicious activity to contact them on 0845 600 8000 or via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

The device is the latest in a spate of pipe bombs made safe by the ATO.

On Saturday, two pipe bombs found inside a holdall at Nutts Corner in Co Antrim were made safe by bomb squad officers.

An attempt was also made on Friday to murder a retired PSNI detective in east Belfast after a bomb was left under his car.

Previously, dissidents sent “sophisticated” letter bombs to Chief Constable Matt Baggott, Secretary of State Theresa Villiers, PSNI Chief Inspector Jon Burrows and a Public Prosecution Service office.