Real IRA mount wave of attacks

Republican hardliners have claimed responsibility for a spate of
pre-Christmas firebomb attacks on businesses in Counties Derry
and Antrim.

Major British chain stores were targeted by the 'Real IRA', who
used incendiary devices to start fires.

The breakaway 'Real IRA' group claimed responsibility for the
first attack, but it is clear that all of the recent fires are
linked.

The attacks began with a huge blaze at the B&Q warehouse at
Sprucefield shopping centre on the outskirts of Lisburn and the
Carpetright store in Derry's Waterside at the weekend.

Another incendiary device partially exploded on Monday at the
Homebase store in the same Derry retail centre, while an
incendiary device was found in a sports shop in Newry, County
Down, on Saturday.

The Poundstretcher store in Newtonabbey, County Antrim was
destroyed overnight on Monday.

The latest in the series of fires struck the Harry Corry
premises shop in County Antrim overnight on Tuesday.

It was the sixh apparent firebomb attack in the North over the
past four days.

Hundreds of thousands of pounds of damage have been caused in
the attacks.