A fire at a major DIY store in Northern Ireland was caused by an incendiary bomb, it was confirmed last night.
The B&Q superstore at the Sprucefield Retail Park outside Lisburn, Co Antrim, was extensively damaged by the fire on Sunday night. It took more than 100 firefighters several hours to get the fire under control. The store was damaged by smoke and water from the sprinkler system.
Police called those responsible for the arson attack "mindless criminals".
Lisburn district commander, Chief Insp Ken Henning, urged all businesses to exercise "extreme vigilance".
A fire that caused £100,000 (€145,490) damage to a carpet shop at another retail park in Derry on Sunday morning is also believed to be the result of an arson attack, though forensic tests have so far proved inconclusive.
Another device was found in a sports shop in Newry, Co Down, on Saturday night. Christmas shoppers in both Lisburn and Belfast city centres were also disrupted by a series of bomb hoaxes on Saturday.
Mr Henning said he was "appalled by the actions of the mindless criminals who have nothing to offer society".
"The risk it posed to staff, customers and emergency personnel dealing with the incident could have been catastrophic." - (PA)