Loyalists accused over pipe bomb attacks

Loyalists were today accused of launching two pipe bombs which exploded outside Catholic homes in north Belfast.

Another device which failed to detonate was also thrown at a house in Newington Street, a flashpoint area of the city.

A number of windows were broken but no injuries were reported.

Sinn Fein councillor Gerard Brophy accused loyalists from across a sectarian interface of attacking Catholic homes.

"This came from Tiger’s Bay, there’s nowhere else it could have been thrown from," he said.

"This has been going on for the last year and it’s been intensified over the last six to eight weeks."

Meanwhile, it emerged that eight pipe bombs, component parts and a handgun were discovered on the outskirts of north Belfast.

Army explosives experts found the stash in a car park on the Upper Hightown Road, Glengormley.