Stanhope Street: Homes evacuated after Belfast house explosion

A mother of four whose north Belfast home was pipe-bombed has said the attack was a case of mistaken identity.

Nicola Nugent said the device was put through the letterbox of her home on Stanhope Street at about 03:00 BST on Friday.

Police said it "exploded fully", setting off the fire alarm and causing damage to the front door and the hallway.

Nugent and her four children escaped from their home and no-one was injured.

Det Sgt Stevenson, from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), said: "We are thankful that they escaped injury, though they are obviously very shaken by their ordeal."

Cordons have now been lifted and residents are able to return to their homes.

Homes in Stanhope Street have been evacuated, with police cordons in place as Army bomb experts carry out an investigation.

Nugent said: "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."

Nugent said she "definitely, 100%" believed it was a case of mistaken identity.

She said she was still in shock and did not want to think about what could have happened.

Sinn Féin assembly member Carál Ní Chuilín condemned the attack and said the family were "very, very lucky".

"She has four children, the youngest of which is a baby of a year old," said Ní Chuilín.

"As far as I'm concerned, this was attempt of murder."

Police have appealed for anyone with information to get in touch.