2 viable pipe bombs cause disruption in Belfast and Strabane

Police have slammed those responsible saying they have "no regard" for residents.

Published 17th Jul 2017

Residents across Northern Ireland had to deal with the disruption of three separate security alerts over the weekend.

The first of those incidents came in Londonderry on Friday, in the Clooney Terrace area.

It turned out to be a hoax and a 24-year-old man is due in court this morning charged in connection with that.

Next was an alert in west Belfast in the early hours of Sunday morning, which led to people being evacuated from thier homes in Coolnasilla Park West.

Expert police teams then determined that it had been caused by a viable pipe bomb, which has been made safe and is undergoing further tests.

Army technical officers then determined that it had been caused by a pipe bomb, which has since been made safe and is undergoing further tests.

The final alert was in Strabane, when a viable pipe bomb was discovered at a car yesterday morning in the Drumrallagh area of the town.

Again local people were moved from their homes while the device was made safe.

Police haven't said the incidents are linked but have appealed for information in all three cases