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Friday, 19 March 2010

Bomb alert chaos across NI

The security services are dealing with a series of bomb alerts in Londonderry after the Real IRA admitted planting four devices.

Those behind a series of bomb alerts across Northern Ireland have been slammed for causing major disruption in Derry, Belfast, Newry and Ballymena.

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In Belfast, rail services were disrupted between Central Station and Great Victoria Street Station because of a security alert which turned out to be a hoax.

An incident at the city's Forestside shopping centre, which was searched by police following a telephone bomb warning, has also ended.

A security alert at Malone Road is also over after a suspicious object was examined and declared a deliberate hoax.

Ladybrook Park in the Finaghy Road North area was sealed off for a time following a bus hijacking incident.

Two masked men boarded the bus and threatened the driver, before leaving a suspicious object on board.

Other alerts in areas including Sandyknowles, Fortwilliam, and Wandsworth Road have been declared hoaxes.

The M2 was also closed for a time northbound at Greencastle and southbound at Templepatrick, but has since reopened.

SDLP South Belfast MP Dr Alasdair McDonnell said those responsible have no respect or regard for the community.

"Whatever cause those responsible think they are serving, they need to know that their methods today are resented and rejected by the people of this city," he said.

East Belfast Alliance MLA Naomi Long said: "Those who caused these alerts are intent on causing maximum disruption - however all they are doing is making people even more determined to move forward away from Northern Ireland's sad and violent past."

In Ballymena, a shopping centre on Wellington Street was at the centre of another alert which has now ended.

Nothing untoward was found.

Trains

In Newry, train services have been disrupted following a telephone bomb warning.

Police discovered a suspicious object close to the railway line between Killeen and Meigh.

Translink has been forced to cancel special trains which were due to be provided for rugby fans travelling to the Ireland match in Dublin against Scotland on Saturday.

A company spokesman said: "It is unlikely that normal services will have resumed before tomorrow's international rugby match in Dublin between Ireland and Scotland.

"We apologise for the disruption."

In Londonderry, army bomb experts have carried out controlled explosions on two hijacked vans abandoned at separate locations, after the Real IRA claimed they had left a number of devices across the city.

A police station was evacuated, a college closed and a number of roads blocked after the Real IRA claimed it had planted two bombs in the vehicles.

One of the vans was left outside Bishop St courthouse and the other outside Strand Road PSNI station.

A number of businesses and homes were evacuated and motorists were asked to avoid the areas affected.

The Northwest Regional College also said its Northland Road and Strand Road sites would be closed and advised students not to attend classes.

Both incidents have now been declared hoaxes and the areas reopened.

Further police operations were carried out at Craigavon Bridge and at Madams Bank Road.

According to a police spokeswoman, nothing untoward was found and both areas have been reopened.

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20 Comments

At 18:20 on 20 March 2010, Zach wrote:

This kind of thing saddens me, after all these years of progress, they are trying to derail the future of N.Ireland. If the police ever catch who ever has done these things, they should be delt with properly!

At 22:22 on 19 March 2010, colin wrote:

seany says we can cry and winge all we want........ this is the mentality of these deluded morons

At 21:25 on 19 March 2010, art wrote:

As usual these people who think that hitting their own communities where it hurts,in the local shops and businesses pockets mostly,think they are doing good for their cause.In past years stunts like this were a waste of time and only annoyed the people they claim to represent,what about ambulance access?do they give a toss about any one?I think not.

At 20:46 on 19 March 2010, mike wrote:

well this is the police u all voted for u were all warn geting rid of the ruc was the worse thing ever reap what u sow i just hope noone get injured the police will never be able to handle a full sclae province wide day of disruption let alone major situations baggot was called by god well that just shows what u can look forward to god help us thats what we need maby hes got a direct line to him

At 20:06 on 19 March 2010, Tommy Atkins wrote:

I am hoping that I am wrong in making this prediction but I will rely on the history of n Ireland in doing so. Unfortunately, I am convinced that these dissidents will not be satisfied until blood is spilt once again in the streets of N. Ireland. Furthermore and equally saddening, I feel that it is only a matter of time until the folks in N ireland will be voting for these peretrators

At 19:32 on 19 March 2010, Dave wrote:

@ Seany, as far as Im aware, Gary Donnelly is a leading dissident republican, i.e., a member of an illegal terrorist organisation, so boo hoo if he gets strip searched and beaten while there. So the RIRAs rationale is; one of ours is being incarcerated in a jail, lets plant bombs all over Derry and put civilian lives at risk???? Gary had a choice like the rest of us but choose to abuse his by joining the RIRA.

At 18:49 on 19 March 2010, DHSS wrote:

These cowardly idiots are only affecting normal, hardworking people - the only support they have, is from the workshy underclass in society. Have some respect for yourselves - stop taking handouts from the British Govt.