Failed nail bomb was murder bid, says ex-councillor

A nail bomb was today launched at the home of a former Sinn Fein councillor in north Belfast.

Army explosives experts defused the device after it struck the front of Mick Conlon’s house on the Cavehill Road but failed to explode.

Two nearby schools were evacuated while the security operation was mounted close to Antrim Road police station.

Mr Conlon claimed the attack was the latest attempt on his life and challenged police chiefs in the area to identify the culprits.

‘‘These things are designed to kill,’’ he said.

‘‘Antrim Road station is 25 yards from my home and it is festooned with security cameras so whoever did this believed they would get away.

‘‘I’m asking police to examine to examine video footage and see if they can identify these people.’’

But a police spokeswoman insisted the surveillance installations at the base do not look out onto surrounding houses.

‘‘These are static security cameras covering the emergency escape gates to the station,’’ she said

Mr Conlon, who has remained a Sinn Fein activist since stepping down from Belfast City Council, said loyalists have issued 14 death threats on his life over the past five years.

‘‘This attack was no different from those against other Catholic families in north Belfast,’’ he added.

‘‘It just happened that I’m the chosen target this time.’’