UDA blamed for bomb in Bangor

The chairman of the Ulster Democratic Party, Mr John White, has said the Ulster Defence Association was behind Monday's bomb …

The chairman of the Ulster Democratic Party, Mr John White, has said the Ulster Defence Association was behind Monday's bomb attack in Bangor.

A device exploded under a transit van, seriously injuring the driver, Mr Sandy Rice.

Mr White has denied reports that Loyalist Volunteer Force drug dealers were responsible and has instead insisted the UDA based on the Lower Shankill Road carried out the attack.

"It has been indicated to me from a loyalist source that this bomb attack was directly linked to the loyalist feud on the Shankill Road and that the UDA were responsible," he said.

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"Monday's attack is a serious escalation and a worrying development. People are now using explosives in an attempt to murder. This has serious implications for the ongoing feud.

"I am very concerned about this spreading to other areas. The suffering of the people of the Shankill is now more than ever experienced.

"I think people should start to realise the potential for disaster if this does spread to other areas. I would hate to see what is happening on the Shankill happen anywhere else."

He said earlier comments made by the leader of the Progressive Unionist Party, Mr David Ervine, alleging the LVF was behind the attack were "baseless and compounded by a lack of evidence."

However, Mr Ervine said he refused to be drawn into a debate with Mr White and that he found Mr White's comments "dubious in the extreme."

Meanwhile, police have recovered a number of offensive weapons from a house on Malvern Way in the Shankill Road area.

The find included machetes, hatchets, iron bars and a loaded blank-firing pistol. No arrests were made.