Loyalists blamed for bomb and arson attacks

The RUC is investigating what is believed to be a number of sectarian attacks in the North overnight.

In Derry, a pipe bomb was thrown at a house occupied by an elderly Catholic couple at Shearwater Way. It exploded, but there were no injuries and no damage.

British army bomb disposal units were called in to deal with another pipe bomb found on the roof of a car in Ballymoney, Co Antrim at 12.30am.

In Bushmills, Co Antrim a Catholic church was set alight at around 1.30am. A car had been pushed against the front door of St Mary's chapel and set ablaze. There had been a similar incident at the church last July.