Latest Newry Bomb Alert Ends

A security alert in Newry, the second in the city in two days, has ended.

Police were investigating a suspicious object in the grounds of St Mary's Church, but said "nothing untoward" was found.

Several homes had been evacuated due to a bomb alert in Newry - the second in 24 hours.

The Army Bomb Squad was sent to the border city again after a member of the public uncovered a suspicious object.

Priory Crescent and Chapel Street were evacuated and Chapel Street closed to traffic as a result. All have now been reopened.

Yesterday, a device in a holdall left by masked men in a Santander branch in Newry was later declared to be a viable bomb - but was successfully defused after many hours of disruption in the city centre.

The PSNI Area Commander for Newry and Mourne, Chief Inspector Davy Beck, said of the bank bomb: "This was a viable device which was capable of causing death, serious injury and substantial damage to the area.

"I would place on record my gratitude to the Army Technical Officer and his team for their actions which clearly prevented the detonation of this device."

That appeal came at the same time as the PSNI said last night that a suspicious package, which caused a separate security alert in Ballymoney, Co Antrim, was indeed a bomb.

Residents were moved from their homes and roads were closed after the device was found in the Ozone Avenue area on Monday afternoon.

Army bomb experts then examined the object and confirmed it was "a viable device".

The people were only allowed to return to their homes and roads were reopened shortly before 9pm.

(BMcC)