Bomb Alert Shuts Border Police Station

Army bomb disposal experts have today been continuing to deal with a van abandoned outside a border police station.

About 350 residents in Aughnacloy, Co Tyrone, were evacuated from their homes due to the ongoing security alert - with the police now confirming that the vehicle concerned contained a 300lb bomb.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said a van was found abandoned outside the police station on Dungannon Road at about 10pm last night and that the town was closed off to traffic overnight.

However, the main street was later partially opened, and police said that the A5 to Londonderry was also accessible.

Army Ammunition Technical Officers (ATO) were initially called to the scene overnight and police as the emergency services cleared the area.

The alert was raised in a telephone warning to a Belfast newspaper office. It is believed the call was from dissident republicans as the caller used a recognised code word.

The Acting Chair of the NI Policing Board, Brian Rea has condemned the Aughnacloy attack: "It is clear that, had this device exploded, it could have caused untold death and destruction in this village.

"Whilst people will be relieved that the area has been made safe, this attack has caused huge disruption to the people of Augnacloy who have been moved from their homes and prevented from going about their everyday business," he said, asking that "anyone who has any information on this incident and the attempted pipe bomb at Lurgan police station to bring it to the police".

Sinn Fein MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone Michelle Gildernew said those responsible for the device should "seriously reflect on what they are doing".

"People are angry at the disruption that has been caused particularly to elderly people and young children who were forced from their homes overnight.

"Their actions are no part of a campaign to bring about Irish unity and they have little or no popular support."

Ulster Unionist MLA for Fermanagh and South Tyrone Tom Elliott said it was "deeply distressing" such incidents were "becoming a familiar feature of life in Northern Ireland once again".

Also, overnight, and in an apparently unconnected incident, a pipe bomb has been thrown at a police station in Co Armagh.

It happened at about half-past midnight and was discovered whwn a charity received a phone call stating a device had been thrown at Brownlow station and had failed to explode.

A search was carried out and a device was found at the back of the complex.

The ATO attended and the device - which was deemed to be a viable pipe bomb - was made safe.

(BMcC/GK)