Warning to businesses after firebomb find

Police in the North tonight warned business owners in Newry, Co Down, to return and check their premises following the discovery of a firebomb.

The device was found in the pocket of an item of sportswear in a sports’ shop in Old Creamery Retail Park in Monaghan Street shortly after 5pm.

Police evacuated the shop and army technical officers were brought in to deal with the incendiary.

The firebomb campaign by dissident republicans led to major disruption in towns throughout Northern Ireland in the run-up to Christmas.

On Sunday it was reported that the Real IRA intended to step up its violence to try to disrupt the peace process.

In recent weeks there have been firebomb attacks in Belfast, Newry, Ballymena, Newtownabbey and Lisburn.