Bomb defused under SF man's car

Loyalists were blamed after a pipe bomb was found today under a car belonging to a member of Sinn Féin.

Police confirmed British army bomb disposal experts defused the device in Ballymena, Co Antrim.

Fitted with a timing device, it was discovered beneath a vehicle owned by Michael Agnew.

Neighbours in Dunfane Avenue also had to be evacuated because of the alert.

Mr Agnew said: “This is just part of an escalating campaign of attacks on republicans in this area.

"There is no doubt loyalists are behind it.”

Bomb experts were also called to another part of the town after a suspect device was discovered under a car at Sunningdale Park.