House damaged in Belfast blast

Police investigating a blast that damaged a house in east Belfast have found an explosive device a short distance away.

Detectives are continuing to examine the scene of the Invernook Drive explosion in the Sydenham area, while they have confirmed the discovery of a device in Tamar Street.

There were no reports of injuries, but police confirmed a number of families have not been allowed to return to their homes while the cause of the Sydenham blast is investigated.

Assembly members for East Belfast have condemned the incidents and appealed for anyone with information to help the police.

Army bomb experts, who were called to Invernook Drive after the explosion at 8.40pm last night, have now left the scene, but a security cordon remains in place.

Police said they also found an explosive device in the nearby Tamar Street area at 10.50pm last night.

Democratic Unionist representative for the area Robin Newton said: “The number of violent incidents within the Sydenham area is of growing concern.

“If these incidents continue it is only a matter of time before there is a fatality,” he said.

“The good people of Sydenham, and East Belfast as a whole, have long ago rejected those who engage in violent behaviour and just want to get on with their lives.

“The bully boys and gangsters have no support within the community and act only on their own behalf. They have nothing positive to offer the community.

“The PSNI (Police Service of Northern Ireland) need the support of the community to deal with these violent acts. Anyone with a shred of information should contact the police. It is in the community’s best interests to see violent men taken off the streets.”

The Alliance Party’s Judith Cochrane said: “This must have been a frightening incident for residents in the area when it happened.

“If anybody has any information about this incident then I would urge them to contact the police. I would also like to praise the efforts of the emergency services who dealt with this explosion.”