Loyalists blamed for pipe bomb attacks

Members of a mainstream loyalist paramilitary group supposed to be on ceasefire were today accused by police of being behind a recent spate of pipe bomb attacks.

Elements of the Ulster Volunteer Force, a group which has political representatives in the Stormont Assembly and claims support for the Good Friday Agreement, are thought by the security forces to be responsible for three pipe bomb finds in Co Derry in as many days.

The latest device was discovered and made safe by Army bomb experts who carried out two controlled explosions on it near Maghera today.

Two other suspicious objects were being examined in the area.

Superintendent Terry Shevlin said a warning had been received by a group claiming to be the South Derry Protestant Volunteer Force.

But he said: ‘‘This group is basically a cover name for a local UVF group in South Derry.’’

He said the danger from such devices was obvious - there could be loss of life if a member of the public picked one up and it exploded.

Local SDLP Assembly member Denis Haughey said it was a worrying development and clear evidence of an upsurge in activity from within the loyalist paramilitaries.

‘‘It is extremely worrying that there are still significant elements out there in the population who seem to be determined to plunge us all back into violence.’’