Bomb Alert Shuts Border Police Station

Army bomb disposal experts are examining a van abandoned outside a border police station.

About 350 residents in Aughnacloy, Co Tyrone, have been evacuated from their homes due to the ongoing security alert.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said a van was found abandoned outside the police station on Dungannon Road at about 10pm last night and that the town was closed off to traffic overnight.

However, the main street is now partially open, police said later and noted that the A5 to Londonderry is now also accessible.

Army Ammunition Technical Officers (ATO) were called to the scene overnight and police as the emergency services cleared the area.

Initially, the alert was raised in a telephone warning to a Belfast newspaper office. It is believed the call was from dissident republicans and the caller used a recognised code word.

Also, overnight, and in an unconnected incident, a pipe bomb has been thrown at a police station in Co Armagh.

It happened at about half-past midnight and was discovered whwn a charity received a phone call stating a device had been thrown at Brownlow station and had failed to explode.

A search was carried out and a device was found at the back of the complex.

The ATO attended and the device - which was deemed to be a viable pipe bomb - was made safe.

(BMcC/GK)