A mum-of-four has said she and her family were the victims of mistaken identity, after a pipe bomb was forced through her letterbox and exploded in the early hours of Friday morning. 

Nicola Nugent, who lives in the Stanhope Street in Carrick Hill, said she was in the house with her four children when the attack took place. 

"Me and the big girl were woken up by it," she said. "We tried to get down the stairs but the house was so covered in smoke we didn't know what we were going down to. 

"We had to wait until the smoke died down and then we went down. I thought it was a hairspray explosion but it wasn't, it was a pipe bomb," she continued. 

"We're absolutely traumatised. The fact that somebody would come up a garden, see kids toys in the garden and still do that to a letterbox. And see a pram in the garden at that, knowing I've a wee baby in the house."

Ms Nugent said this was definitely a case of mistaken identity. 

Sinn Féin MLA for North Belfast Caral Ní Chúilín said that the attack was "attempted murder," and referenced the recent petrol bombing of a family home in Waterford that resulted in four deaths.

"Nicola and her four kids are very lucky today, particularly when thoughts go to the family in Waterford.

"This community is absolutely shocked. They're standing right behind Nicola and her family. I would encourage anybody with any information either to bring it to me and I'll bring it to the police, or go to police themselves. 

"This cannot happen again, and cannot happen to another family. It's absolutely disgraceful."

Frank Dempsey from Carrick Hill Residents' Association was also on the scene this morning and said the community was waking up to "devastating news".

"This young family does nobody any harm and they have been subject to this type of activity. It's unbelievable, given what has happened down in Waterford.

"Carrick Hill could have been waking up this morning to exactly the same situation. With the help of God that didn't transpire. The family is safe. Traumatised. The community is angry and disappointed."