Semtex, Guns And Ammunition Found In West Belfast

Semtex, handguns and ammunition were discovered following a security alert in west Belfast in the early hours of Friday morning.

A 67-year-old man and a 38-year-old woman have been arrested after over half-a-kilo of Semtex, two handguns, more than 200 rounds of ammunition and two detonators were found on the Ballymurphy Road.

Police said it was part of an investigation into violent dissident terrorist activity.

Residents had to be evacuated during the alert, however they have now returned to their homes.

Detective Chief Inspector Gillian Kearney, from Serious Crime Branch said: "We are delighted to have removed these potentially lethal items from the streets of west Belfast. We appreciate the clearance operation which was needed to ensure everyone’s safety through the night disrupted many people's lives, requiring people to leave their homes and inconveniencing road users. We would like to thank them for their patience and understanding during the operation. We will continue to work with the community to ensure we keep everyone safe."

(CD/JP)