A mother of four whose north Belfast home was struck by a pipe bomb has stated the attack was directed at the wrong address. According to BBC News, Nicola Nugent said the explosive device was inserted through the letterbox of her residence on Stanhope Street at approximately 03:00 BST on Friday.
The device detonated, triggering the fire alarm and inflicting damage to the front door and hallway. Nugent and her four children evacuated the property safely, with no injuries reported. She remains in shock following the incident.
Following the explosion, residents in Stanhope Street were evacuated and police established cordons around the area as Army bomb disposal specialists commenced their investigation into the attack.
Describing the moment of the blast, Nugent recalled the terrifying experience:
I was just woke up with an explosion at just after three o'clock. [I] jumped up, trying to get the kids out. There was so much smoke so we couldn't really see what they were doing.
When asked about the circumstances of the attack, Nugent expressed her conviction about what had occurred. She stated she was
definitely, 100%certain the incident represented a case of mistaken identity. She added that she remained in shock and preferred not to contemplate the potential consequences of the attack.
Sinn Féin assembly member Carál Ní Chuilín issued a strong condemnation of the attack, describing the family as
very, very lucky. Ní Chuilín highlighted the vulnerability of those in the home at the time of the explosion, noting:
She has four children, the youngest of which is a baby of a year old. As far as I'm concerned, this was attempt of murder.
Ní Chuilín appealed to members of the public who may possess information relating to the attack to come forward and contact the police with their details.
