Sinn Fein has blamed elements of the British security services for a hoax bomb which was sent to the home of the DUP deputy leader, Mr Peter Robinson, last weekend. The DUP claimed the IRA was responsible and that the incident showed the Provisionals' ceasefire was a sham.
The parcel sent to Mr Robinson's home in Castlereagh, on the outskirts of east Belfast, contained a timer and a battery pack. The DUP deputy leader is on holiday in the US and his son, Jonathan, became suspicious when he noticed the heavily padded envelope. British army bomb experts examined the device before declaring it a hoax. The parcel had a Belfast postmark. Hoax bombs have been sent in recent weeks to various unionist politicians, including the North Down MP Mr Bob McCartney, Mr Fred Cobain of the Ulster Unionist Party, and Mr Sammy Wilson and Mr Nigel Dodds of the DUP.
The Northern Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam, is expected to declare later this week that the IRA ceasefire is genuine and to invite Sinn Fein to participate in all-party talks on September 15th. The DUP justice spokesman, Mr Ian Paisley Jnr, said the hoax bombs showed the IRA had no intention of giving up violence. He called for Sinn Fein to be barred from talks.
Sinn Fein councillor Mr Alex Maskey said the timing of the hoax was highly significant. "This latest incident comes at a time when media reports are circulating that Sinn Fein is to be admitted into all-party talks with meetings between the Sinn Fein president and the British Prime Minister.
"Activities such as bomb hoaxes are designed to influence the British government's decision on such meetings and undoubtedly bear all the hallmarks of British military dirty tricks," he said.