There has been widespread condemnation of those responsible for leaving four blast bombs in South Belfast last week.

Last Tuesday (December 2), the devices, which were described as viable, were found by army technical officers at a site just off Bentham Drive in Sandy Row. A controlled explosion was carried out at the scene.

The area is close to a BMX track, nursery school and children’s play area.

South Belfast commander, Chief Inspector Trevor O’Neill, said the devices were linked to loyalist paramilitaries.

Local UUP councillor Bob Stoker said he was “absolutely disgusted” by the find.

“I think it is irresponsible that anybody would jeopardise the health and safety of anyone, much less the children and elderly people who use the area quite regularly.

“Every group is denying they belonged to them, but somebody had to leave them there.”

Mr Stoker rejected the idea the blast bombs were left as part of a loyalist attempt to decommission weaponry.

“If that was indeed the case, there is a process they can go through to ensure anything is safely disposed of. All they have to do is pick up a phone and tell the police where they are instead of just leaving devices lying there.”

Sinn Féin MLA Alex Maskey said the PSNI need to state “very clearly” who was behind the manufacturing and use of the pipe bombs.

“This finding of these pipe bombs beside a playground is a matter of serious concern. This is not the first find of pipe bombs in this area or indeed loyalist areas in general over the past weeks. 

“I have raised the issue of the use of such devices at the Policing Board after a pipe bomb was put through the letter box of a Romanian living in South Belfast.

“The PSNI need to inform the public very clearly who exactly is behind these devices and say if there a pattern behind any attacks or bomb finds. 

“The threat from these devices are very real and they can kill. We need to see action taken before somebody is seriously wounded or a life is lost.”

A police spokesperson said anyone who noticed anything suspicious, particularly if they saw someone carrying a blue holdall, should contact them on 0845 600 8000.