Kieran Smyth, 66, from Beechmount Avenue in Belfast, appeared via videolink at Lisburn Magistrates' Court on Saturday. He faces charges related to a bomb explosion outside Dunmurry Police Station on the outskirts of Belfast the previous Saturday night, 25 April.

Police state the device detonated at 23:15 BST as officers evacuated nearby homes. Smyth is charged with attempted murder, causing an explosion likely to endanger life, possessing explosives with intent to endanger life, possessing articles for use in terrorism, and hijacking.

A detective inspector from the serious crime branch told the court a call came in at 22:09 BST to a Chinese restaurant in Belfast for delivery to Summerhill Park in Twinbrook. The driver arrived at 22:43 BST, left his vehicle, and faced threats from two men, one using a pistol.

The men placed a gas canister bomb in the car's rear and ordered the driver to reach Dunmurry Police Station within 30 minutes. He arrived, alerted police, and the device exploded during evacuation.

Evidence includes a phone top-up at a Centra shop on Beechmount Avenue that afternoon for the number used to call the restaurant. CCTV showed a man in a green hoodie with 'Brazil' on it making the purchase; two officers identified him as Smyth. The next machine transaction topped up a Monzo account linked to Smyth.

A search of Smyth's nearby apartment found a matching hoodie. His personal phone was off from 16:00 until 23:45 BST, around the time of the incident, and showed later searches related to it.

Smyth's solicitor, Gavin Booth of Phoenix Law, contested most charges, stating evidence only linked his client to the phone top-up. The judge ruled sufficient connection to all charges and remanded him in custody. No bail was sought. The next hearing is 18 May via videolink.