10/12/2013

East Belfast Homes Evacuated Over Hoax

Families in east Belfast have been evacuated from their house overnight following a security alert that turned out to be a hoax.

A number of homes were evacuated at Kinross Avenue, Tullycarnet, following reports of a suspicious object just before 23:00 on Monday evening.

The army bomb squad carried out an investigation and declared the object a hoax.

Police said they left the scene at 03:30 on Tuesday morning.

Alliance East Belfast MP Naomi Long has condemned those behind the hoax.

Ms Long said: "Those responsible for this hoax device have caused fear and disruption for families in the area, not to mention the police resources expended on dealing with this rather than the kind of active community policing people want to see.

"There can be no justification for these hoaxes, and those behind them have nothing to offer but fear and intimidation.

"If anybody has any information about this hoax then I would urge them to contact the Police."

(IT/CD)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

19 August 2004
Hoax bomb delays delivery of exam results
A postal sorting office had to be evacuated today following a hoax bomb alert. The alert at the Mallusk mail centre on the outskirts of Belfast meant that many 'A' Level students across Northern Ireland did not receive their exam results as expected.
19 September 2024
Suspicious Object In East Belfast Declared A Hoax
A security alert in east Belfast on Wednesday, 18 September, has been declared a hoax. The alert began shortly after 1.15pm when police received a report of a suspicious object in the Church Road area. The PSNI immediately launched a public safety operation, closing Church Road between Manse Road and the Ballygowan Road.
07 April 2003
Bomb alerts disrupt travel
Northern Ireland's two major airports were involved in separate bomb alerts this morning. A terminal at Belfast City Airport was evacuated following a bomb warning. As a result, the Sydenham bypass was closed in both directions.
19 July 2017
Suspicious Object Found In Co Antrim Declared A Hoax
A suspicious object found in Co Antrim has been declared a hoax. The discovery was made in the Cushendall Road area in Ballymena on Tuesday, 18 July. Police and Army bomb disposal experts attended the scene and the object caws declared a hoax. The area was sealed off, however it has since been reopened.
03 November 2020
Security Alert In L'Derry Declared 'Elaborate Hoax'
A security alert in L'Derry has now ended after it was declared an elaborate hoax. A suspicious object was discovered on the Fairview Road in the Galliagh area on Monday, 02 November. Army bomb experts attended the scene and examined the object. It follows an earlier security alert near St Columb's College.