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Car bomb explodes at courthouse | Car bomb explodes at courthouse |
(10 minutes later) | |
A car bomb has exploded near a courthouse in Newry, County Down. | A car bomb has exploded near a courthouse in Newry, County Down. |
A police spokeswoman said there were no initial reports of any injuries following the explosion. | |
A car was abandoned close to the gates of the courthouse at about 2200 GMT on Monday. Police were evacuating the area when the bomb went off. | |
People in the city reported hearing a loud bang and smoke could be seen in the area around the building at New Street, near the city centre. | People in the city reported hearing a loud bang and smoke could be seen in the area around the building at New Street, near the city centre. |
Motorists have been advised to avoid the area. | Motorists have been advised to avoid the area. |
Police have appealed for anyone who saw a suspicious vehicle in the area to contact them. | Police have appealed for anyone who saw a suspicious vehicle in the area to contact them. |
BBC Ireland Correspondent Mark Simpson said it appeared to have been a car bomb which "seems to have been planted by dissident republicans". | |
"What the IRA used to do quite frequently was target the courthouse - that is what dissident republicans are now doing," he added. | |
It comes days after a mortar bomb was abandoned near a police station in the village of Keady, about 20 miles away. | It comes days after a mortar bomb was abandoned near a police station in the village of Keady, about 20 miles away. |
No organisation claimed responsibility, but dissident republicans are suspected to be behind it. | No organisation claimed responsibility, but dissident republicans are suspected to be behind it. |
Last October, Newry courthouse was the scene of a major security alert after an Army bomb disposal team was sent to examine a suspicious vehicle abandoned nearby. | Last October, Newry courthouse was the scene of a major security alert after an Army bomb disposal team was sent to examine a suspicious vehicle abandoned nearby. |
It was later declared to be an elaborate hoax. | It was later declared to be an elaborate hoax. |
Are you in the area? If you have any information you wish to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below: | Are you in the area? If you have any information you wish to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below: |
The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |