Pipe bombers target families

Loyalists have been accused of trying to murder children in the latest pipe bomb attacks on Catholic homes in Northern Ireland.

Devices exploded at two homes in Ballynahinch, Co Down.

A family of six escaped injury when a device blew in windows. The second explosion at a house nearby caused no damage.

Police removed two lengths of copper pipe which showed signs of an explosion.

The attacks are the latest to be blamed on the Ulster Defence Association.

Local SDLP councillor Francis Casement claimed the bombs were meant to kill.

He said: "The first went off and I would say it was designed to bring people out of their homes, the second was designed to kill somebody.

"The second was at the home of a family of five children. They could have killed two or three of the children - that is probably what these people want."