Bomb Alert Closes Border Village

The Army bomb squad is at work today in the border community of Newtownhamilton.

The technical officers are dealing with a suspicious device left in the Co Armagh village.

The whole centre of the village has been closed to traffic and the residents evacuated.

Already, the SDLP MLA for the area Dominic Bradley has condemned those who left the suspect vehicle at the gates of the PSNI station: "I am told the vehicle was left at gates to the Shambles Lane side of the PSNI station which leads onto the Commons.

"Although we don't as yet know whether or not there is a viable device in this vehicle, and hopefully there is not, it bears all the hallmarks of the Newry courthouse bomb a few weeks ago.

"The police are treating the incident very seriously and have confirmed to me that they have begun to evacuate homes in the immediate vicinity of Newry Street and the Commons," he said.

"Those who engage in this type of activity have nothing to offer the community of Newtownhamilton or any other community.

"Newtownhamilton has suffered in the past from Provisional IRA car bombs - it was wrong then and it is wrong now.

"I would say to those responsible for this incident - there is nothing to be gained from continuing with this type of activity, it is wrong, it is pointless, it is fruitless.

"Stop now before more people are killed or injured," the MLA demanded.

It is thought that up to 60 houses were evacuated in both Newry Street and the Commons area of the village in the early hours after the alert began at about 2am. Dozens of residents were moved to Newtownhamilton High School where they were sheltered.

The attack comes just a day after a car bomb exploded close to MI5's Northern Ireland headquarters in Holywood, Co Down on Monday and less than one day after NI's Justice and Policing Minister was agreed at Stormont.

See: United Condemnation Follows Bombing

(BMcC/GK)