AFTER a weekend of violence in Northern Ireland and a major security find in Co Monaghan, there were fears of an increase in terrorist attacks in advance of the British general election.
The loyalist paramilitary group, the Red Hand Commando, was being blamed last night for an attempt to bomb Sinn Fein offices in Belfast's New Lodge area.
Families were evacuated from their homes in Lepper Street around 6.30 a.m. yesterday while security forces carried out a controlled explosion on a suspect vehicle outside the Sinn Fein office.
A security source claimed British army bomb disposal experts defused the bomb within minutes of it exploding.
Loyalist sources told the BBC it was their "measured" response to the IRA bomb attack on Wilmslow station, Cheshire, and other recent incidents.
In a separate development the IRA admitted last night it carried out the sniper attack in south Armagh on Saturday night in which a policeman was seriously injured. The officer was hit in the leg by a single shot shortly after 11.30 pm. after leaving Forkhill RUC station in a joint RUC army foot patrol. He was rushed to hospital where his condition is described as serious but stable".
Meanwhile, gardai in Monaghan will continue searching a large area of bog and woodland on the Border with Fermanagh after the discovery of a large IRA training camp on Saturday.
The camp, consisting of a rifle range, mortar target and accommodation hut, is the largest of four finds in an intensive search of the townland of Knockatallon, outside Scotstown.
In the last four weeks, gardai uncovered 500 rounds of AK47 ammunition, a motorcycle stolen in UCD in January and mortar tubes and parts within a two mile radius of the camp. The search lead by Chief Supt Colm Rooney from Monaghan Garda station, was prompted by Garda intelligence.
Chief Supt Rooney said gardai believed the motorcycle was to be used in an armed robbery. The ammunition was discovered in an underground bunker and gardai also discovered three launching tubes for Ml5 mortars and five domestic gas cylinders, partly adapted for mortar bombs.
Gardai discovered the camp around noon on Saturday. A firing range built partly underground and concealed in heavy woodland was found about 1/4 mile from a galvanised accommodation hut. Near the hut was a shoulder held mortar target and debris from mortar firing. Last night it was confirmed that around 1,000 spent 7.62 calibre shells were found around the rifle range which consisted of two tunnels, one of tyres and one of concrete, built into a 30 metre bunker.
Asked for his reaction to the Co Monaghan find, the Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams said: "I want to see an end to all armed actions. I want to see a situation where everyone who has a stake in the future of this country can have a place at the negotiations table to work out the future of this country."
Earlier on Saturday an RUC search of the Blackstaff Road near, Ballykinlar army base in Co Down, discovered 1,000 lbs of homemade explosives packed into fertiliser bags. Nearby was another bag containing "ancillary equipment" capable of priming and detonating the bomb.
The RUC also found a scrambler motorcycle and two helmets, as well as an AK47 assault rifle with magazines.
Amid growing concern that the loyalist ceasefire had effectively come to an end, there was mixed reaction to remarks by Dr Mo Mowlam of the British Labour Party who said Sinn Fein could be in talks by June 3rd if there was an immediate IRA ceasefire.
Mr Adams said he was encouraged by Dr Mowlams remarks. On the New Lodge attack, he was thankful no one was hurt.
The Northern Secretary, Sir Patrick Mayhew accused terrorists of "delivering their Easter message.
"A policeman is seriously injured and if the terrorists had their way, he would be dead. A large bomb, now made safe by the security forces, was also designed to murder, as was the loyalist bomb at the New Lodge."
Meanwhile, British army technical officers in Downpatrick, Co Down, carried out a controlled explosion on a suspicious van in a car park at St Patrick's Avenue. A motorcycle found in the van has been taken away for forensic examination.
A man was taken to hospital in Belfast last night after he was shot in the hand and leg outside the Lower Falls Social and Recreation Centre. The man received the injuries after a scuffle outside the club.