The Sinn Féin president, Mr Gerry Adams, has called on political leaders to speak out against the intimidation of political activists after a pipe-bomb was discovered under the vehicle of a senior Sinn Féin member, Mr Michael Agnew, at his home in Ballymena, Co Antrim, yesterday.
British army bomb disposal experts defused the device which the PSNI said was designed to kill.
A second device was discovered under the car of a nationalist living in the area.
Mr Agnew said he was in no doubt that loyalists were responsible.
"Political leaders should speak out against the intimidation of political activists," said Mr Adams. "These attacks . . . will not deter Sinn Féin from defending the Agreement or in delivering the agenda for change required to transform society on this island," he added.