The identity of the paramilitary group which planted a bomb outside the offices of the Progressive Unionist Party (PUP) at Belfast City Hall was still unclear last night. No organisation has admitted responsibility but suspicion has fallen on the Continuity IRA and the Loyalist Volunteer Force.
An anonymous caller to the BBC on Wednesday night said a bomb had been left at the back of City Hall. He claimed to represent the CIRA but used no codeword. The RUC searched the grounds but found nothing.
However, yesterday morning staff at City Hall noticed a suspect package at the side of the building. It was situated under a tree, about two feet from the room used by the PUP, the UVF's political wing. British army bomb experts carried out two controlled explosions on the device, which contained a small quantity of commercial explosives.
The RUC Assistant Chief Constable, Mr Bill Stewart, said the bombers had risked the lives of civilians.
Mr Billy Hutchinson of the PUP described the bomb as a "very worrying development" and said it was aimed to kill. After talking to senior RUC officers, he said he believed republicans were involved.
The CIRA, which is strongly opposed to the peace process, has been widely blamed. Security sources say it is the military wing of Republican Sinn Fein, a claim the party denies.
The CIRA has previously said it has no plans to target loyalists. If it planted the City Hall bomb, it would be a major policy departure.
Some republican sources last night insisted there was no evidence the CIRA wanted to be drawn into a sectarian battle. Last month a caller claiming to represent the group said a bomb had been planted outside a DUP rally in Carryduff, Co Down. The call turned out to be a hoax but the CIRA later issued a statement saying it was not involved in the incident. It is understood the group's codeword had been compromised.
There was some speculation yesterday the bomb could have been left by the hardline LVF, a splinter group formed by UVF dissidents last year. It is opposed to the peace process and has issued threats against the PUP.