Mail bomb partially explodes in UUP headquarters

ULSTER Unionist Party members were reviewing their security yesterday after a mail bomb sent to leader David Trimble partially exploded.

The package, which had been posted to party headquarters on the outskirts of east Belfast, was being opened by a senior aide to the former Northern Ireland First Minister when there was a flash and flames shot out.

Army bomb disposal experts later made safe the device a video cassette inside a Jiffy Bag.

No one was injured in the explosion, but a Police Service of Northern Ireland spokeswoman said: "It could have caused serious injury had it exploded completely."

The PSNI declined to say who they thought responsible for the bomb, but dissident republicans were considered the most likely.

Northern Ireland Secretary Paul Murphy branded the bombing "a clear attempt to kill or to maim."

Mr Trimble said: "We are glad no-one was hurt, but it caused disruption and was obviously a bit of an ordeal for staff at headquarters."

Playing down the incident, the Upper Bann MP who was not present at the time of the blast added: "It is a matter of concern, but at the same time I don't want to attach too much significance to it."

The package, addressed to Mr Trimble, was being opened by senior aide Steven King when it went off.

"It would appear to have been a rather crude device, but Stephen and the other staff reacted pretty coolly," said the unionist leader.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern condemned the blast.

He said: "Naturally I condemn that totally, and my concern and sympathy is with people in the head office.

"Any of these events must be condemned in the strongest possible way."

The chairman of the nationalist SDLP's Assembly Group, Eamonn O'Neill, also condemned those responsible, insisting no political party should be targeted.

"It is fortunate that no-one was seriously hurt in this attack today," he said.

"There will always be factions who will take advantage of any political deadlock to exploit their malicious motives. Actions like these only increase bitterness and hold us all back from making progress."