Viable pipe bomb found during security alert

A viable pipe bomb has been found during a security alert in Dunmurry, on the outskirts of Belfast.

A suspect device was reported near a residential property in the Colinvale area of Poleglass shortly after 10:00 BST on Friday.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said its officers “attended the scene together with ammunition technical officers who examined the device, which was discovered to be a viable pipe bomb, and it was made safe”.

The security alert, which resulted in a number of people being moved from neighbouring properties, has now ended.

Councillor Caoimhín McCann had said about 200-250 houses had been evacuated, affecting up to 400 people.

“We’ve had one man come back from a night shift who can’t back in to get to bed; we have people that are needing their medication that they need to take daily,” McCann said.

“Those involved have absolutely nothing to offer our community.”