Security alerts Derry, Newry, Belfast and Ballymena

Police dealt with a large number of security alerts in Derry, Belfast and Ballymena on Friday 19 March.

Security alerts Derry, Newry, Belfast and Ballymena

Police dealt with a large number of security alerts in Derry, Belfast and Ballymena on Friday 19 March.

From early morning, a number of security alerts began in Londonderry. At about 6.30am a white Ford Transit van was hijacked by five masked and armed men at Park Avenue, Rosemount. An object was placed in the back of the van. The driver and his assistant were ordered to drive to Strand Road Police Station.

In addition, at about 7am a parent with two young children was asleep when four armed and masked men forced their way into their house at the Creggan area and took their white Vauxhall van. It was driven to Bishop’s Gate where it was abandoned adjacent to the courthouse.

The security alerts caused by these incidents - in addition to alerts in the Craigavon Bridge and the Madamsbank Road areas - were each declared a hoax later that day.

In addition, the railway line close to Newry has been closed from early in the morning of the same day due to a security alert. A suspicious object was discovered but found to be a deliberate hoax.

In Belfast, alerts at Sandyknowles Roundabout, Fortwilliam Roundabout, Wandsworth Road, Mount Street South and Stockman's lane areas were declared hoaxes. However, a suspicious object was discovered at Malone, and enquiries are ongoing.

Later alerts at Knockbreda and Albertbridge Road were also declared hoaxes.

Earlier, at 2.40pm, in separate incident it was reported that two masked men had boarded a bus in the area of Ladybrook Park, Finaghy Road North, Belfast.

The males  threatened the driver and left a suspicious object on the vehicle. The object was later declared to be a deliberate hoax.

Shortly after 4.15pm, a shopping centre at Wellington Street in Ballymena, County Antrim, was closed while a search was carried out. Nothing suspicious was found.

Source: PSNI Website

Release Date - 19 Mar 2010