Derry Blasted As Belfast Traffic Diverted

An overnight explosion and a security alert in Belfast added to travel woes for Northern drivers this morning.

First, in the early hours of this morning, an explosion occurred close to Guildhall Square in Londonderry.

The device detonated at the City of Culture office at around 3.30am on Monday morning in the Custom House Street area.

There are no reports of any injuries, but the pedestrian area from the Square leading into Waterloo Place was sealed off as Army technical officers were tasked to the scene.

The Mayor of Derry, Colm Eastwood, of the SDLP, said he was shocked by the bomb attack and said the location - at the City of Culture offices - amounted to an attack on all the citizens of the city given the opportunities it offered for employment and commercial development.

Meanwhile, on the Westlink in Belfast police were alerted to a suspicious vehicle.

The incident began at 4.40am the M1 was closed in both ways between Divis Street and Stockmans Lane with traffic diversions in place.

However, by 10am, the alert on the Westlink ended and all roads have been reopened.

The police said a vehicle has been removed for examination.

Elsewhere, the police have issued a warning for motorists to use extreme caution while driving describing some areas as treacherous.

The frosty conditions in Carrickfergus, Newtownabbey and the Lisburn areas left black ice that is believed to have caused a number of damage-only accidents.

(BMcC/GK)