NI security alerts cause further disruption

Security alerts continued to cause disruption in Northern Ireland as a number of suspicious objects were reported throughout …

Security alerts continued to cause disruption in Northern Ireland as a number of suspicious objects were reported throughout the region.

The road between Newtownbutler, Co Fermanagh, and Clones in Co Monaghan has been closed off today after dissident republicans claimed to have abandoned explosive devices in the Wattlebridge area.

The road will remain closed while a security operation takes place.

In Bangor, army bomb disposal experts have been called to deal with a suspicious object discovered in the area of Balloo Avenue. An engineering works and the rear yard of a DIY store have been evacuated as part of the operation.

Elsewhere, the Antrim Road in Belfast was closed between Carlisle Circus and the junction of Duncairn Gardens after an object was discovered. It was later deemed to be non-suspicious.

Last night, residents were evacuated from the Falls Road in Belfast at about 10pm last night after a suspicious object was found at a petrol station.

A controlled explosion was carried out by the army, and the incident was later declared a hoax.

The latest alerts come after a number of incidents in nationalist parts of Belfast and Lurgan on Monday. A number of vehicles were hiijacked by armed men and set on fire, while roads were also closed off, causing traffic disruption.

Ciara O'Brien

Ciara O'Brien

Ciara O'Brien is an Irish Times business and technology journalist