The Ulster Defence Association has denied any involvement in a bomb attack on a Catholic family's home in Lurgan which the PSNI has blamed on loyalists. A mother and daughter escaped injury when a blast-type device exploded at the front door of their house in the Co Armagh town.
British army experts defused a second bomb found in the garden of the property at Demense Avenue, where the family has lived for 25 years.
Ulster Political Research Group spokesman Colin Halliday said: "I have been talking to people on the ground and it was definitely not them.
"All the units in the north Armagh area have been well briefed on what was happening around the ceasefire and they agree with the leadership's strategy."
Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble urged those behind the bombing to call off their campaign.The Upper Bann MP said: "It is the work of evil people who would endeavour to unsettle anyone in their home by putting lives in jeopardy.
Craigavon SDLP councillor Dolores Kelly claimed the incident would only heighten tensions in a previously quiet area.
She said: "The mindless thugs who carried out this attack were hell bent on causing death or serious injuries and must be pursued and prosecuted to the full extent of the law."
Police said the attack could have been fatal and insisted it had a sectarian motive.
Inspector David Hutchinson said: "We utterly condemn any attack. Devices like these are of a very crude nature, but had the potential to seriously injure or kill."
Graffiti was also daubed on the garage door before the attackers made off, he added.
Apart from the UDA, both the Loyalist Volunteer Force and the Ulster VolunteerForce have units in the Lurgan area.
Mr Halliday refused to speculate on who was behind the bombing. He added: "I won't point the finger, but all I can say is that the UDA were not involved."
PA