NORTHERN IRISH police arrested a suspected dissident republican in County Down yesterday amid fears of a return to sectarian violence.

Three other men remain in police custody while a man arrested in west Belfast on Saturday has been released unconditionally.

Meanwhile, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) was treating a failed dissident republican grenade attack on its officers as attempted murder.

A senior officer said it was only “good fortune” that lives were not lost on Friday night when the weapon landed at the feet of three officers but failed to detonate.

The attack happened in the vicinity of Pottingers Quay in the Short Strand.

Communist Party of Ireland chair Lynda Walker said: “The CPI continues to condemn bombing and attacks by elitist paramilitary organisations which result in the PSNI arresting and detaining people.

“We condemn any unjustified acts against innocent people.”