Further firebomb found in Co Down shop

Another fire bomb has been found in Newtownards today.

Another fire bomb has been found in Newtownards today.

The discovery at a furniture store on the High Street in the Co Down town heightened fears of a new dissident republican terror blitz.

Police said the shop was evacuated as Army explosives experts moved in to defuse the device.

It is the fifth time retail outlets in the North have been targeted this week.

A similar device was discovered in a Tesco supermarket in the town yesterday night. Another fire bomb was found burned out in a neighbouring store in the Ards Shopping Centre on Easter Monday.

Devices were also planted in shops in the Forestside shopping centre in south Belfast in recent days. One was defused but the other caused extensive damage to a Next store.

PSNI Chief Constable has said suspicion for the attacks has fallen on the 'Real' IRA.

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