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Pipe bomb explodes outside young family's home

BBC A side-on view of the exterior of the house in Mullaghbawn where a pipe bomb exploded overnight. Two of the front windows are shattered and a piece of wood or cardboard has been used to board up the broken window. There is an empty road in front of the house and a mountain in the background. BBC
Broken glass and a twisted metal fence are the visual evidence of the overnight incident at Sliabh Mor in Mullaghbawn

A pipe bomb has exploded in front of a family home in Mullaghbawn in south County Armagh.

Police said they received a report of a loud explosion outside the house in the Sliabh Mor area at about 00:30 BST on Friday.

The occupants of the property were a young family who were not harmed but were left "shocked and shaken".

The device has been taken away for further examination and detectives are working to establish a motive.

BBC News NI has been told it could be a case of mistaken identity.

Det Sgt Johnston said there was substantial damage to windows and an outdoor railing.

"Devices of this type can cause damage over a wide area causing destruction far beyond any intended target," he said.

Newry and Armagh assembly member Justin McNulty said it was a "reckless attack which could have cost lives".

"Can you imagine waking in the middle of the night to this, with no understanding of what's going on, with young children?" he said.

McNulty, of the Social Democratic and Labour Party, said he believed the victims had been targeted by mistake.

Sinn Féin councillor Áine Quinn standing in front of the two-storey house in Sliabh Mor where a pipe bomb exploded overnight. Quinn has long, straight fair hair and is wearing a black coat with a large collar and gold earrings.
Sinn Féin councillor Áine Quinn said it was a reprehensible attack on a young family

Councillor Áine Quinn, of Sinn Féin, said the attack was terrifying for the householders and their neighbours.

She said the young family "were subject to a violent attack in their home which is completely unacceptable".

She added their young children were in bed at the time of the explosion.

Quinn described the attack as "reprehensible" and she urged anyone with information to contact the authorities.