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North Belfast alert; army recovers viable pipe bomb North Belfast alert: Army recovers viable pipe bomb
(about 11 hours later)
Army bomb experts have recovered a pipe bomb after a security alert in north Belfast. A pipe bomb left close to a Belfast community centre has been recovered by Army bomb disposal officers.
The Shore Road has now been reopened. The device has been taken away for further examination. The device was found near the Greater Whitewell Community Surgery on the Shore Road in the north of the city.
A number of people had to leave their homes during the alert close to a community centre at Whitewell. The alarm was raised at tea-time on Thursday, after staff at the centre received a telephone bomb warning.
The alarm was raised at tea-time on Thursday. Residents have now been allowed to return to their homes. A number of residents had to leave their homes during the alert and nearby businesses were evacuated. People have now been allowed to return to the area.
The device has been taken away for further examination.
Geraldine O'Kane, the chairperson of the Greater Whitewell Community Surgery, said she was "absolutely mystified" as to why her organisation would be targeted.
The community centre provides facilities for young people and senior citizens, and offers support services and advice on issues such as employment, housing rights and mental health.
Ms O'Kane told BBC Radio Ulster: "At the minute I'm quite stunned. I mean we look after children in there, we look after young people in there and there was no regard to their safety at all."
Local residents and others who were caught up in the alert were offered shelter in the nearby St Mary's Parish Hall.
Mary Gillen, who works at the Fountain Bar in Greencastle, was among those who had to spend hours in the hall during the alert.
"I started work at five o'clock and at about five fifty (17:50 GMT) a police office came in and asked us to clear the bar," she said.
Ms Gillen added: "We are losing business and it's very, very quiet at the moment so this is very disappointing for us."
Tierna Cunningham, a Sinn Fein councillor for the area, condemned the attack and said the bomb had caused "upheaval" to local residents and businesses.
"A strong message needs to go out to the people who planted this device. We're not going to be deterred from our actions and the good work will continue on the ground," she said.