Police urge shop firebomb check

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Business owners and keyholders in Antrim have been urged to check their premises after recent firebomb attacks.

Dissident republicans have been blamed for a series of such attacks in Belfast, Newry and Coleraine.

Police are urging shop staff to carry out checks during trading and at the end of the working day.

A spokesman warned incendiary devices could destroy property and kill. He said devices could be found hidden in garments, furnishings or upholstery.

Last Friday, Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain revealed that attacks carried out by dissident republicans had cost more than £25m in just seven months.

Mr Hain said the damage was caused to commercial premises across Northern Ireland.

The Homebase store on Boucher Road was destroyed in one attack last month, while nearby Smyth's toystore was also targeted.

JJB Sports in Anne Street in the city was badly damaged in a third attack on the same day.

Last month, dissident republicans were blamed for a fire bomb attack on a B&Q store in Coleraine.

The Real IRA was also blamed for a series of incendiary attacks on commercial premises in Newry in August.