Released flat before son attacks (9)

I believe the answer is:

outbursts

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'attacks' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both acts as well as being plural nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'released flat before son' is the wordplay.
'released' becomes 'out' (eg out of prison).
'flat before' becomes 'burst' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'son' becomes 's' (genealogical abbreviation for son).
'out'+'burst'+'s'='OUTBURSTS'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for outbursts that I've seen before include "Eruptions of violent emotions" , "explosions" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.

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