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| Car bomb partially explodes in Belfast city centre | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A bomb has partially exploded inside a car in Belfast city centre, the police have said. | |
| The explosion happened after midnight as army bomb experts examined a car at the entrance to an underground car park at Victoria Square shopping centre. | The explosion happened after midnight as army bomb experts examined a car at the entrance to an underground car park at Victoria Square shopping centre. |
| There were no reports of any injuries. The size of the device is not yet known but the car was not destroyed. | |
| Detective Chief Inspector Karen Baxter told the BBC it was a "viable device which partially exploded". | Detective Chief Inspector Karen Baxter told the BBC it was a "viable device which partially exploded". |
| "The only people that are going to lose out on this are the general public in the advance to Christmas," said | |
| "We would be looking for anybody with information in relation to that device to come forward. | |
| "We do know a silver (Renault) Laguna, bearing the registration plates CJZ4697, we believe was used." | |
| Commuters on Monday face traffic disruption as the area is expected to remain closed for a number of hours. | Commuters on Monday face traffic disruption as the area is expected to remain closed for a number of hours. |
| Roads closed are: Belfast's Victoria Street, between May Street and Ann Street; Chichester Street between Oxford Street and Montgomery Street and Victoria Street car park. | Roads closed are: Belfast's Victoria Street, between May Street and Ann Street; Chichester Street between Oxford Street and Montgomery Street and Victoria Street car park. |
| The car had been left opposite the city's main police station and not far from Belfast's court complex. | The car had been left opposite the city's main police station and not far from Belfast's court complex. |
| Hundreds of people were caught up in the security alert. | Hundreds of people were caught up in the security alert. |
| People living close to the scene at Victoria Square had to leave their homes overnight, but have now been allowed to return. | People living close to the scene at Victoria Square had to leave their homes overnight, but have now been allowed to return. |
| Some of those caught up in the alert were moved from a nearby cinema. | Some of those caught up in the alert were moved from a nearby cinema. |
| Eddie Sheppard, a police officer from County Monaghan, was among 40 people who took shelter at the Ulster Hall overnight. | Eddie Sheppard, a police officer from County Monaghan, was among 40 people who took shelter at the Ulster Hall overnight. |
| "We were just coming out and the alarms went off in the shopping centre, so we were more or less told by security staff to vacate or leave the area. | "We were just coming out and the alarms went off in the shopping centre, so we were more or less told by security staff to vacate or leave the area. |
| "Our car is parked underground and we are told we can't get out until the morning," he said. | "Our car is parked underground and we are told we can't get out until the morning," he said. |
| "We've to get back to work in the morning, so it is out of the way a wee bit, but sure what can be done about it, the police are doing their best." | "We've to get back to work in the morning, so it is out of the way a wee bit, but sure what can be done about it, the police are doing their best." |
| The car, which was located at street level at the top of a ramp to an underground car park, was believed to have been left there at about 21:30 GMT. | The car, which was located at street level at the top of a ramp to an underground car park, was believed to have been left there at about 21:30 GMT. |
| BBC NI reporter Rick Faragher, who lives in the Victoria Square apartments, was among those who had to leave their home. | BBC NI reporter Rick Faragher, who lives in the Victoria Square apartments, was among those who had to leave their home. |
| He said at about 22:00 GMT police told him there had been a suspect car and he could not go back inside. | He said at about 22:00 GMT police told him there had been a suspect car and he could not go back inside. |
| "I had my coat on, my phone with me, but the lights were still on in my flat, they told us to wait outside. They said they were not sure how long it could last for," he said. | "I had my coat on, my phone with me, but the lights were still on in my flat, they told us to wait outside. They said they were not sure how long it could last for," he said. |
| "People were confused; they were not quite sure what was going on. | "People were confused; they were not quite sure what was going on. |
| "There was a tremendous sense of frustration, it was particularly cold last night and there was quite a few of us out on the street. | "There was a tremendous sense of frustration, it was particularly cold last night and there was quite a few of us out on the street. |
| "They let us back in just after five o'clock this morning." | "They let us back in just after five o'clock this morning." |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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