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Alert at Co Tyrone police station Hundreds flee homes in bomb alert
(about 6 hours later)
Army bomb experts have been called to examine the abandoned vanArmy bomb experts have been called to examine the abandoned van
Police are advising the public and motorists to avoid Aughnacloy in County Tyrone after a van was abandoned outside a police station. Hundreds of people have been forced to leave their homes in an overnight bomb alert at a police station in County Tyrone.
Army technical officers have been called to examine the vehicle which was left outside the building on the Dungannon Road. Army bomb experts are examining a white van which was abandoned outside Aughnacloy PSNI station at Dungannon Road on Thursday at 2210 BST.
Some 350 people living close by have had to leave their homes. Police said about 350 people were asked to leave their homes and spent the night in a local church hall.
Dungannon Road and Main Street have been cordoned off and other agencies are helping police to clear the area. The roads around the village remain cordoned off in the security operation.
Local DUP councillor Sammy Brush, who is at the scene, said: "There is nothing getting in, or out, of the vicinity of the police station. Police have urged motorists to avoid the area.
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.
DUP councillor Sammy Brush said: "There is nothing getting in, or out, of the vicinity of the police station.
"There's a white Ford transit van parked in front of the police station.""There's a white Ford transit van parked in front of the police station."
Mr Brush said residents have been moved to nearby halls for the night.
"We can open all the halls that are needed. We have the facilities to open them."We can open all the halls that are needed. We have the facilities to open them.
"We wouldn't have beds in them but we have seats and things like that."We wouldn't have beds in them but we have seats and things like that.
"It looks like it's going to be a long night and probably these people are going to be out for some considerable time.""It looks like it's going to be a long night and probably these people are going to be out for some considerable time."
He added that the evacuation seemed "fairly well organised" and that there was "no panic".He added that the evacuation seemed "fairly well organised" and that there was "no panic".
"There's a little bit of anger and disbelief but I suppose the longer this goes on, the feelings will probably get stronger.""There's a little bit of anger and disbelief but I suppose the longer this goes on, the feelings will probably get stronger."