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| Two viable explosive devices found in Londonderry | Two viable explosive devices found in Londonderry |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Two bombs have been discovered during an overnight security alert in Londonderry, the police have confirmed. | Two bombs have been discovered during an overnight security alert in Londonderry, the police have confirmed. |
| They were found close to Derry City Council's offices on Strand Road. A number of nearby houses were evacuated. | They were found close to Derry City Council's offices on Strand Road. A number of nearby houses were evacuated. |
| The bombs have been made safe by Army bomb disposal experts and residents have been allowed to return home. | |
| Meanwhile, there is also a security alert in County Armagh. The Markethill Road has been closed between Markethill and Newtownhamilton. | Meanwhile, there is also a security alert in County Armagh. The Markethill Road has been closed between Markethill and Newtownhamilton. |
| There are no further details at present. | There are no further details at present. |
| In Derry, all roads in the area have now reopened to traffic following the alert but the police operation is continuing. | In Derry, all roads in the area have now reopened to traffic following the alert but the police operation is continuing. |
| However, 200 staff at Derry City Council and 100 at Fujitsu, which has offices next door, were told not to come in to work. | |
| The alarm was raised shortly after 23:00 BST on Thursday when a suspicious object was found during a routine patrol by the Foyle Search and Rescue team. | The alarm was raised shortly after 23:00 BST on Thursday when a suspicious object was found during a routine patrol by the Foyle Search and Rescue team. |
| The chairman of Foyle Search and Rescue, Craig Smyth, said a female member of his staff found a holdall bag near a fence at the back of the council offices. | The chairman of Foyle Search and Rescue, Craig Smyth, said a female member of his staff found a holdall bag near a fence at the back of the council offices. |
| He said she called police after she opened the bag. | |
| "One of the female volunteers opened the bag. It was like a normal rucksack sitting at the side of the river. | |
| "She saw a metal pipe like device inside. | |
| "She set down the bag and walked away and knew not to reach into it. | |
| "It was very frightening for her," he said. | |
| "There were three people standing around the bag, all of them could have been killed." | |
| SDLP MLA for Foyle, Mark H Durkan, said the discovery by the seach and rescue volunteer "could actually have cost them their lives while they're out trying to save others". | SDLP MLA for Foyle, Mark H Durkan, said the discovery by the seach and rescue volunteer "could actually have cost them their lives while they're out trying to save others". |
| He said PSNI officers had told him that one of the devices was found at the back of the building while the other was discovered within the council office parameters. | He said PSNI officers had told him that one of the devices was found at the back of the building while the other was discovered within the council office parameters. |
| A security cordon was lifted shortly after 07:00 BST on Friday but forensic officers are still at the scene. | A security cordon was lifted shortly after 07:00 BST on Friday but forensic officers are still at the scene. |
| Pedestrian access to the river walk at the rear of the council offices is restricted as the police operation continues. | Pedestrian access to the river walk at the rear of the council offices is restricted as the police operation continues. |