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| Foster: Object abandoned near North South interconnector. | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster has said a suspicious object which has been found near Crossmaglen in County Armagh has been abandoned beside the North South interconnector. | |
| It is understood a beer keg has been found close to the pylons. | It is understood a beer keg has been found close to the pylons. |
| They link the electricity grids of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. | They link the electricity grids of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. |
| On Tuesday, police received a report that a device had been left in the vicinity of the border village. | On Tuesday, police received a report that a device had been left in the vicinity of the border village. |
| The person who made the telephone call warning used a recognised codeword. | The person who made the telephone call warning used a recognised codeword. |
| In the past, codewords have been used by paramilitaries to make bomb warnings. | In the past, codewords have been used by paramilitaries to make bomb warnings. |
| Later on Tuesday, officers issued a warning to Crossmaglen residents to be vigilant and not to approach suspicious objects. | Later on Tuesday, officers issued a warning to Crossmaglen residents to be vigilant and not to approach suspicious objects. |
| A police helicopter flew over the scene earlier on Wednesday. | A police helicopter flew over the scene earlier on Wednesday. |
| The Dundalk Road has been closed between Foxfield Road and the border. | The Dundalk Road has been closed between Foxfield Road and the border. |
| 'Procedures' | 'Procedures' |
| "It is not the first time our infrastructure has been attacked by terrorists. A previous generation wasted precious lives trying to advance a political goal through such tactics. They failed. This further attempt will also fail," Mrs Foster said. | "It is not the first time our infrastructure has been attacked by terrorists. A previous generation wasted precious lives trying to advance a political goal through such tactics. They failed. This further attempt will also fail," Mrs Foster said. |
| "I have been in touch with the electricity systems operator. The operator has procedures in place to deal with this event and ensure that power to homes in Northern Ireland is not disrupted." | "I have been in touch with the electricity systems operator. The operator has procedures in place to deal with this event and ensure that power to homes in Northern Ireland is not disrupted." |
| Local Sinn Féin councillor Terry Hearty said it was causing a lot of disruption for people in the area. | |
| "A number of houses in the area have been evacuated," he said. | |
| "There's a section of the road closed close to the border and Gardaí (Irish police) have roads closed on the other side of the border. | |
| "Tomorrow (Thursday) they say when they go in to examine this device that there may be more evacuations. They're predicting that the road will be closed most of the day." | |
| In a statement, police said they regretted any disruption and would "endeavour to make the area safe for the people of South Armagh as quickly as possible but it is anticipated that the alert may continue for some time". | In a statement, police said they regretted any disruption and would "endeavour to make the area safe for the people of South Armagh as quickly as possible but it is anticipated that the alert may continue for some time". |
| Ulster Unionist MLA Danny Kennedy said the issue was matter of great concern. | Ulster Unionist MLA Danny Kennedy said the issue was matter of great concern. |
| Mr Kennedy said: "The vast majority of the people in south Armagh want to live in peace, free from the threat of terrorism. | Mr Kennedy said: "The vast majority of the people in south Armagh want to live in peace, free from the threat of terrorism. |
| "Those who are trying to kill innocent people with a bomb attack in Belfast and heighten tensions with bomb alerts in other areas offer nothing, but a corrupt ideology. | "Those who are trying to kill innocent people with a bomb attack in Belfast and heighten tensions with bomb alerts in other areas offer nothing, but a corrupt ideology. |
| "They might copy the tactics of the Provisional IRA, but like them, they will still not achieve a united Ireland," Mr Kennedy said. | "They might copy the tactics of the Provisional IRA, but like them, they will still not achieve a united Ireland," Mr Kennedy said. |