Firebomb found at Ards shopping centre

A firebomb discovered at Ards shopping centre in Co Down this afternoon has been made safe by the British Army.

A firebomb discovered at Ards shopping centre in Co Down this afternoon has been made safe by the British Army.

The device, suspected to be the work of dissident republicans, was found shortly after noon in the Newtownards complex today.

Hundreds of shoppers were evacuated as Army technical officers dealt with the firebomb.

It was the second such device found in the shopping centre this week. A burnt-out firebomb was found in a shop on Easter Monday.

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Two other devices were discovered at the Forestside complex in south Belfast over the weekend. They were also blamed on dissidents.

Last month PSNI chief constable Hugh Orde blamed the 'Real IRA' for 20 firebomb attacks on shops and business premises since November.