Today's bomb attack on the home of Sinn Féin MLA Mr Alex Maskey has been blamed on the UDA by party president Mr Gerry Adams.
Mr. Adams said: "Sinn Féin members had been advised some weeks ago that a loyalist attack on a party member was imminent. There is no doubt in my mind that the attack on Alex Maskey's home and family relates directly to this threat and is the work of the UDA."
The unexploded pipe bomb was found in the garden of Mr Maskey's Andersonstown home.
Mr Maskey, who is Sinn Féin's chief whip at the Assembly was at Stormont when the device was found. "I am told it is a fairly elaborate device, a metal tube with bolts and nails attached," Mr Maskey said.
He said his son was in the house in Andersonstown when the device was spotted. "I don't know much about it yet, but I am very relieved that it didn't go off," Mr Maskey added.
Police said a British army bomb disposal team had been sent to the house.