Fears of a Christmas bombing blitz in Northern Ireland were heightened tonight after it was confirmed a blaze at a major DIY store was caused by an incendiary bomb.
The B&Q superstore at the Sprucefield retail park outside Lisburn, Co Antrim, was extensively damaged in an overnight fire.
It took more than 100 firefighters several hours to get the fire, which started in the rugs department, under control. The rest of the store, which opened earlier this year, was damaged by smoke and water from the sprinkler system.
Police called those responsible for the arson attack "mindless criminals" .
A fire which caused £100,000 damage to a carpet store at another retail park in Derry yesterday morning is also believed to be the result of arson, although forensic tests have so far proved inconclusive.
Another viable device was found in a sports shop in Newry, Co Down, on Saturday night.
Christmas shoppers in both Lisburn and Belfast city centres were also disrupted by a series of bomb hoaxes on Saturday.