Fire bomb ignites in Belfast city centre shop...

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Fire bomb ignites in Belfast city centre shop...

A fire bomb has ignited in a shop in Belfast city centre.

It happened at about 18:40 GMT, when the incendiary device was left at a shop in Cornmarket. Staff removed it from the premises and left it outside.

Army bomb disposal officers have been called to examine the incendiary device and police have cordoned off the area.

Officers have advised city centre businesses to check their premises for any suspicious objects.

The fire bomb attack follows two small bomb explosions in the city centre within the past month.

Police mounted an extensive security operation after a car bomb partially exploded outside Victoria Square shopping centre on 24 November.

Last Friday night, a small bomb placed inside a holdall detonated in Belfast's Cathedral Quarter as police were clearing members of the public from the area.

No-one was injured in either of the bombings, which were blamed on dissident republican paramilitaries.

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Fire bomb at Belfast shop

An area in Belfast city centre has been sealed off by police following a suspected fire bomb attack at a shop.

Police at the scene in Belfast city centre. (© UTV)

The suspected incendiary device was left at a golf shop in the Corn Market area at around 6.40pm on Monday.

"The device is believed to have ignited but was removed from the premises by staff and left outside," a PSNI spokesperson said.

The area has been sealed off while army bomb experts examine the device.

"Police are advising city centre businesses to check their premises for any suspicious objects," the spokeperson added.

Anyone who was in the area at the time and who may have noticed any suspicious activity is asked to contact detectives at Musgrave.

Security has been escalated in the city centre following a series of attacks.

On Friday evening a sports bag with a small explosive device went off in the Cathedral Quarter area causing restaurants and bars nearby to be evacuated.

Last month a masked gang forced a driver to leave a bomb at the entrance to Victoria Square shopping centre car park last month.

The bomb partially exploded while army bomb disposal experts attempted to defuse the device.

SDLP MLA and party Justice Spokesperson Alban Maginness has condemned the latest attack as reckless.

"It beggars belief that following the placing of a bomb in the Cathedral Quarter on Friday night that Belfast would be faced with yet another attempted act of wanton destruction," he said.

"To place an incendiary device in a busy shopping area is both reckless and irresponsible and serves no rational purpose."

He continued: "Those behind this incendiary device are anti-Belfast and just want to threaten jobs, livelihoods and people's enjoyment of our city.

"They must not be permitted to prevail. Anyone with any information, no matter how seemingly small or insignificant the detail must contact the police as a matter of urgency."

Meanwhile Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association (NIIRTA) Chief Executive Glyn Roberts said the attack was "absolutely despicable".

He said: "I know that there is still an absolute determination amongst traders and shoppers to continue on and not be dragged back by people behind these attacks."

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