Man and child escape blast injuries

The man was attacked on his way home from church

A man and a six-year-old girl have escaped injury after an explosion close to an adventure playground in north Belfast.

It is believed a pipe bomb exploded after being dropped into a litter bin in the grounds of Belfast Castle by a number of youths.

Local SDLP councillor Pat Convery said people needed to be careful.

Both the man and girl suffered shock.

Army bomb experts removed a number of items from the scene for examination.

Sectarian clashes

The police have warned parents and children not to touch anything they believe to be suspicious and to contact the police immediately.

Meanwhile, police are investigating an incident in which a 74-year-old man was attacked on his way home from a Catholic Church on the north Belfast interface.

The victim, who does not want to be identified, was struck over the head by a man carrying a bottle and needed stitches to head wounds.

The pensioner was walking home from mass at St Mary's Church in Whitewell with two female friends when he was set upon.

"He said nothing. I said nothing. It was entirely unprovoked," said the man.

Also on Wednesday, houses in the north of the city came under petrol bomb attack in two separate incidents.

Although the trouble was on a much smaller scale than the sectarian clashes of previous nights, two devices were thrown at a home in Squire's Hill.

Another petrol bomb was hurled at a house on the Deerpark Road.

A number of youths were seen running away.

There were no reports of any injuries or damage to property in either attack.