Hi °C | Lo °C A family said they have been left devastated after a suspected nail bomb attack on their home while a three-month-old baby was inside.
The Devine family were inside their Springfield Road home in west Belfast when they heard a large explosion at around 8.45am yesterday.
Gavin Devine said panic ensued within the property as his family fled following the explosion, and told how he feared his father was at risk from heart seizure due to the stress of the attack.
“We had to take a three-month child out of the house at that time of the morning, without being fed or anything, it's terrible.
“My dad near took another heart attack this morning,” he said, before adding it was fortunate his father reached his medication a short time later.
Mr Devine said he had no idea why the family had been attacked and said he believed the device was not intended for them.
The bomb squad examined what was left of the device before removing it for forensic tests.
Police said it was an industrial firework and witnesses claimed nails were attached to it.
A neighbour said the baby’s mother was just about to leave the house with her child when the device exploded. The neighbour said had they walked through the front door, the device could have landed on the child’s pram.
No injuries were sustained as a result of the attack.
Sinn Fein MLA Fra McCann said: “There is another family just in the aftermath of Christmas who have been left in fear of their lives and it could have been much worse if anybody had've been at the door.
“What they need to do is not only give this family peace, but everybody in this area peace.”
The incident is not believed to be terrorist-related.
Police are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the attack or any suspicious activity in the area to contact them.
