Dissident firebombers 'will be hunted down'

Dissident republicans who fire-bombed three stores in Belfast early today will be hunted down, Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain pledged.

Millions of pounds-worth of damage was caused and 50 jobs are under threat following the attacks, which happened as an all-party group of politicians prepared to ask Chancellor Gordon Brown for a £5bn (€7.5bn) Northern Ireland peace dividend.

One major retail outlet, Homebase in the south of the city, was destroyed and at one stage up to 80 firefighters battled to stop the blaze spreading.

At the height of the fire, an incendiary device exploded in a neighbouring toy shop off the Boucher Road. But fire crews quickly moved in to extinguish the flames, which broke out on a teddy bear display rack

The third firebomb was in a sports shop in the city centre.

The attacks confirmed heightening fears among security chiefs that dissident republicans are planning a new offensive in an attempt to halt attempts by British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to get the suspended Northern Ireland Assembly up and running again.

Mr Hain claimed the dissidents were trying to derail the political process.

But he warned: “They will not be allowed to succeed. We will hunt them down. The whole community is united against them.”

Dissident republicans have recently fire-bombed stores in Newry, Co Down, and Coleraine, Co Derry.

Nobody was hurt in the overnight attacks in Belfast, but it was clearly an attempt to embarrass politicians who are having talks with Mr Brown at his Downing Street office this afternoon.

Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams, DUP leader the Rev Ian Paisley and his deputy Peter Robinson will lead the delegation.

They are seeking a £5bn peace dividend over the next three years to underpin any new political settlement.