14/10/2010

Ligoniel Bomb Alert Ends

A security alert which caused families to spend the night in a community centre in north Belfast is over.

The people were forced to leave their homes as Army technical officers examined the suspicious vehicle found in the Ligoniel Road area on Wednesday night.

According to police, two ambulances were tasked to assist in the evacuation of several elderly residents.

Two controlled explosions were used as the army investigated the car found at Weavershill Court at about 11pm.

Around 80 homes were evacuated and the Ligoniel Community Centre was opened to accommodate people.

The MP for the area, Nigel Dodds, said it was "deeply regrettable that so many people have been put out of their homes in this way."

He said that he believed two men were seen running from the suspicious vehicle in Weavers Hill Court , leaving the lights on, and this resulted in the security alert.

"We are all aware of the current high level of threat of dissident republican terrorism," he commented.

"The responsibility for all the disruption lies directly with those who have caused this security alert. Local people have made it abundantly clear they do not want that disruption and threat hanging over them.

"I commend all those who have assisted the residents overnight, including staff and volunteers at the community centre at which many residents spent the night.

"I trust that all concerned will soon be able to return to their normal routine. We must all work together to remove any threat of terrorism and I urge full co-operation with the police to assist them to root out those who are seeking to take our country backwards and make such disruption commonplace," he said.

(BMcC/GK)

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