Detectives in Northern Ireland are questioning a man after an explosion in a loyalist area of Belfast on Friday night.

The man was arrested on Saturday morning in the Lower Newtownards Road area. He was detained on suspicion of possessing explosives with intent to endanger life or cause serious injury, the Police Service of Northern Ireland said.

The PSNI said no one was injured in the explosion and officers remained in the Fraser Pass area.

John Kyle, a local Progressive Unionist party councillor, said the blast shook windows in the district. “Neighbours reported hearing an explosion. It shook their windows and there was a lot of confusion as to whether it was maybe a gas explosion or an explosive device,” he said.

“People are not sure if it was an explosion in a house or a shed or in some other area. There is a lot of confusion. It was very unsettling for the residents. Explosions are not a part of the scene any longer compared to what they once were and certainly the people were reminded of those bad days.”

Ch Insp Stephen McCauley said: “Police are attending an ongoing incident in the Fraser Pass area of east Belfast, following the report of an explosion by a member of the public just after 8.15pm.

“No one was injured and police inquiries are ongoing. A 32-year-old man was arrested early this morning on suspicion of possessing explosives with intent to endanger life or cause serious injury to property. He is currently in custody.”

