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Hundreds flee homes in bomb alert | |
(about 6 hours later) | |
Army bomb experts have been called to examine the abandoned van | Army bomb experts have been called to examine the abandoned van |
Hundreds of people have been forced to leave their homes in an overnight bomb alert at a police station in County Tyrone. | |
Army bomb experts are examining a white van which was abandoned outside Aughnacloy PSNI station at Dungannon Road on Thursday at 2210 BST. | |
Police said about 350 people were asked to leave their homes and spent the night in a local church hall. | |
The roads around the village remain cordoned off in the security operation. | |
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." |
"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." |