Dissident republicans blamed for bomb bid

DISSIDENT republicans are being blamed for an attempted bomb attack in Dublin yesterday.

Security sources believe that paramilitaries opposed to the IRA ceasefire planted a pipe bomb near the back entrance of the Dáil on Merrion Square, to mark a visit by British prime minister Tony Blair to Dublin for a meeting with Taoiseach Bertie Ahern on the Northern Ireland peace process.

An Army bomb disposal unit carried out a controlled explosion on the device, which had been left attached to the railings of a building next to the National Museum.