01/12/2009

Border Pipe Bomb Made Safe

An explosive device - believed to be a pipe bomb - has been found in the border town of Strabane, Co Tyrone.

It was discovered near Strabane police station and is thought to have been thrown at the building, the North's police have said.

British Army explosives experts have since recovered the "viable device" which was found lying in a small patch of waste ground at the side of the station.

A number of homes in Courtrai Park were evacuated during the incident.

The security alert began following a telephone warning in the early hours of Monday which saw people living close to the station forced to leave their homes in the alert.

The PSNI's Area Commander for Strabane Chief Inspector Andy Lemon said police were alerted to the device by an anonymous telephone warning: "The device was found after thorough searches had been carried out in the area of the station and unfortunately, local residents of Courtrai Park had to be evacuated."

Chief Inspector Lemon also condemned the attack: "It is shameful that the people who left this device have such little regard for the local community."

"There could have been serious death or injury caused," the officer told the BBC today.

"It is shameful that the people who left this device have such little regard for the local community.

"I would pay tribute to the residents of Courtrai Park who were very firm and very strong through what has to be a traumatic occasion for them. There were elderly residents and young children being asked to leave their homes."

(BMcC/GK)

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