‘Loyalist group left pipe bomb’

The device, which was discovered by an occupant of the house in the Stonyhill area of Ballymena Road, was made safe by Army bomb experts who carried out a controlled explosion last Wednesday.

Police said they were aware of reports that the group calling itself the Loyalist Action Force contacted a Belfast newsroom claiming it was behind the attack.

The same group claimed responsibility for a bomb hoax at the Catholic church in Craigyhill last month. It has said it will “take to the streets” in response to attacks on Orange halls and the threat posed by dissident republicans by targeting Catholic churches, businesses and GAA clubs with pipe bombs and car boobytraps.

LAF claims to have cells in Larne, Ballyclare, Ballymena and Mid-Ulster.

PSNI Inspector Noel Rogan described the incident in Carnlough as “a worrying development”. He added: “There has been a spate of hoaxes in recent months, but now we see that the capability is there for a viable device to be left with the intention of maiming or killing.

“There can be no doubt that there are dangerous people with evil intentions in our borough and we would ask the public to remain extra vigilant and report any suspicious persons, objects or vehicles to police.”

Meanwhile, it was determined that a second suspected pipe bomb found at The Roddens in Larne last Wednesday evening was a hoax.

Seven homes were evacuated after the device was discovered outside the Air Training Corp (ATC) Centre. At this stage, police do not believe the two incidents are linked.