Residents in an Armagh estate have been evacuated and a bomb disposal unit has arrived to carry out an investigation at the scene of suspected pipe bomb on Friday night.
A large cordon has been put in place around Ballynahone Avenue and residents within a 100-metre radius of the scene have been told to leave their homes with the nearby Orchard Leisure Centre offering up refuge this evening.
A large noise was heard on Friday night but no report was officially made to police resulting in a four-day delay.
It was only after residents contacted Armagh I – and our subsequent publication of those concerns – did the police begin to investigate the possibility of a pipe bomb.
A number of police officers checked around the property earlier this morning (Tuesday) before forensic officers arrived a little later, prompting the larger scale operation seen tonight.
A cordon was put in place and a large bomb disposal van arrived in the estate.
A police spokesperson said: “Police are currently at the scene of a security alert in the Ballynahone Crescent area of Armagh following the discovery of a suspicious object.
“A number of nearby homes have been evacuated and cordons are in place in the vicinity of Ballynahone Avenue. An update will be provided in due course.”
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