25/02/2011

Lisburn On Alert As Pipe Bomb Explodes

There's an ongoing security alert in progress in Lisburn, Co Antrim after a pipe bomb device exploded at 9.30am this morning.

A family escaped injury in the blast and the PSNI have said this afternoon that is not clear if the explosion occurred when the car drove over it, or that it had fallen off the vehicle.

However, they have established that the family concerned have no security forces connections.

The alert has been underway all day at Brokerstown Road in the town - which remains closed to traffic as Army bomb experts attend at the scene and an extensive search of the whole area continues.

The road is set to remain closed for the evening rush hour and then well into Friday evening as the follow-up progresses.

Meanwhile, as the Irish Republic's General Election got underway today, an Irish Army Bomb Disposal Team has made safe a "crude" improvised explosive device (IED) in the Johnsgate Village area of Limerick City. It happened early on Friday morning.

A spokesman for the Army said it was the 32nd call out for Army bomb disposal teams in the year to date and the second viable IED they have made safe.

At all times voters were facilitated with pedestrian access to the nearby polling station at Faythe National School.

(DW/GK)

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