Ireland

Homes evacuated in Drogheda after explosive device thrown at house

Device has been located at property and scene has been preserved

Gardaí and an army bomb disposal robot at the scene of an unexploded bomb in the estate in Drogheda, Co Louth. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Wire
Gardaí and an army bomb disposal robot at the scene of an unexploded bomb in the estate in Drogheda, Co Louth. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Wire
Elaine Keogh
Mon Mar 25 2019 - 16:48

A device which was thrown at the front door of a house in a busy residential estate in Co Louth, was made safe by the Army.

Gardaí confirmed that the device is believed to have been viable.

A numbers of homes were evacuated after the device was thrown at the house in the Rathmullen Estate in Drogheda at about 11.30am, on Monday.

Gardai said the device did not explode and no one was injured.

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The area was immediately cordoned off and gardaí asked for the Explosive Ordnance Disposal team from the Defence Forces to attend.

“The Army EOD team have since made safe the device which is believed to have been viable,” a Garda statement said. “The device has been removed from the scene for further examination. No injuries were sustained in this incident. Investigations are ongoing.”

While it was believed that the incident is not directly related to the ongoing feud in Drogheda involving two main criminal gangs, it is the latest in a series of attacks on in the town that have included pipe bombs and petrol bombs.