A Catholic family have escaped injury in a petrol-bomb attack on their home in north Belfast. Two devices were thrown at the house in Oldpark Avenue early yesterday. A house next door was slightly damaged when one of the devices struck a window. A motorcycle parked outside was also damaged.
Police refused to speculate on who was responsible and would only say that they were investigating "all possible motives".
A local SDLP councillor, Mr Pat Convery, said it was fortunate that no one had been injured. "Regardless of motive or reasoning behind the attack, it is completely unacceptable that people cannot feel safe in their own homes," he said.
Meanwhile, an Ulster Unionist councillor says he is increasing his personal security after being warned by police that he is on a Provisional IRA hit-list. Mr Jim Rodgers, a former Lord Mayor of Belfast, said detectives told him that his personal details were found among documents and computer discs recovered in house searches in west Belfast last week.
Mr Rodgers yesterday met the acting Assistant Chief Constable for Belfast, Ms Maggie Hunter. He commented: "I will be taking extra security precautions and the police have given me useful advice. But I lead a busy life and I am determined my activities will not be restricted and my constituents will not suffer in any way."
Mr Rodgers suggested that the threat could be linked to his decision to chair the new Belfast District Policing Partnership.