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A blundering bomber was being hunted last night after a powerful device he attached to a car exploded in his face.

The injured criminal fled the scene in Dublin “dripping in blood” on Sunday night after the device went off early.

It had been attached to a Volvo SUV belonging to a local businessman.

One of the theories is the suspect forgot about the clocks changing.

A source said: “It would appear that the bomber got his timings wrong. It could be a case where he didn’t put his watch forward on Sunday [at 1am] and the timer went off too soon.”

Irish police are investigating if he got his timings wrong after planting the high-grade explosives under an SUV on Long Lane in Dublin’s South Inner City.

Neighbours reported hearing a huge blast at around 11pm on Sunday near the old Meath Hospital.

The man was then seen stumbling from the scene and getting into a taxi on the junction of New Street and Clanbrassil Street.

(Image: Twitter/@PoloBoy)

A senior source said: “This certainly was a high-grade explosive used in this bomb. It wasn’t garbage stuff.

“It would appear the bomber got his timings wrong.

“It could be a case where he didn’t put his watch forward on Sunday [at 1am] and the timer went off too soon.

“However, it is more likely he didn’t realise just how powerful the explosives would be.

“If anyone had been in the car or walking near it at the time then they would have been killed.”

The Volvo SUV was completely destroyed in the blast while a house beside the vehicle had its doors and windows blown off.

The army bomb squad was called to the scene by police and the Explosive Ordnance Defence unit was carrying out a post blast analysis yesterday.

The car owner runs a business in the area and has no criminal convictions.

He declined to comment when contacted yesterday.

Detectives are probing if the attack was perpetrated by an inner city gang.

Supt Dave Taylor of the Garda press office added they are appealing for anyone who may have collected the suspect to contact them.

He said: “It was a very extensive explosion and it was a very frightening experience for the people on Long Lane.

"The consequences could have been very, very serious. Witnesses have reported that a man was seen fleeing the scene soon after the explosion heading towards the New Street and Clanbrassil Street area.

“As a result of our enquiries we are making an appeal for that man to come forward. We believe he may have significant injuries as a result of this incident and we believe he might require urgent medical attention.

“We are requiring that person to come forward to help us.

“We are appealing for anyone who might have picked up a person in the New Street and Clanbrassil Street area shortly after 11pm who was quite obviously suffering to come forward.

“It is quite obvious that the car was the object of this attack.

“We are investigating all the circumstances surrounding that at the moment. It’s very early in the investigation to determine the reason behind it.”