Image caption Martin Finucane is the brother of murdered solicitor Pat Finucane and uncle of North Belfast MP John Finucane

North Belfast MP John Finucane has condemned an explosive device thrown at the home of his uncle as a "sinister act."

Martin Finucane, who is the brother of murdered solicitor Pat Finucane, found the device on Thursday morning.

"It could have ignited, thankfully it didn't," said Martin Finucane.

"I spoke to the army technical officer this morning, he said if it had gone up it would have caused damage. It would have exploded."

Police said the "crude explosive device" was thrown at his west Belfast home in Glenties Drive and was reported to officers at about 06:30 GMT on Thursday.

A window was smashed and a vehicle was heard making off from the scene.

Two people in the house were unharmed.

'I hope I am the last person to be attacked'

Speaking to BBC News NI, Martin Finucane said when he initially woke, he thought it may have snowed overnight and that the thuds of windows breaking were snowballs being thrown at his property.

He added when he looked outside, parts of the device, including gas cylinders, batteries, nails, and a flammable cloth, were lying near his front door.

He said they were contained in a large glass bottle which broke when it hit his window.

Image caption The device shattered when it hit the window

"Firstly, I don't understand why it has happened," he said.

"Secondly, I hope I am the last person to be attacked. If it's in connection with any ulterior motive, as we all know, threats have been issued to members of Sinn Féin.

"I would like them to explain why this has happened to me, I am not a member of Sinn Féin."

John Finucane said his cousins were in the property at the time of the incident.

Image caption John Finucane said the attack on his uncle's house was "sinister"

"There is no place for this, as a family we are very confused as to why my uncle's house has been attacked in this way this morning," he said.

'A reckless act'

Army technical officers (ATO) were tasked to examine the suspicious object, which was discovered in the front garden.

Det Sgt Keith Wilson said a motive for the attack had not yet been established.

"We are extremely fortunate no one was injured in what was a reckless act in a built up area," he added.

Sinn Féin MP Paul Maskey said it showed a "callous disregard for the Finucane family and the local community".

Image caption Mr Finucane's window was broken in the attack

"This is an attack on a justice and human rights campaigner and as such is an attack on the whole community," he said.

"Those behind this device have nothing to offer society."

He called on anyone with information about the attack to contact the police.

'Our solidarity is with him'

Writing on social media, campaign group Relatives 4 Justice said it was "absolutely sickened that a bomb has been thrown at the home of one of our founding members".

"Martin has travelled the world to shine light on state collusion, in his brother's case and hundreds of others. Our solidarity is with with him this morning," it said.

The Pat Finucane Centre also responded to the incident on social media, saying it was "shocked" at the attack on one its board members.

The PSNI urged anyone who was in the area of Glenties Drive and saw anything suspicious to get in touch.

Pat Finucane was shot dead by loyalist paramilitaries in 1989.

The high profile Catholic solicitor, 39, lived and worked in Belfast.

There have been long-standing allegations that members of the UK security forces colluded in his murder.