Importante operazione sicurezza a North Belfast. Duecento abitazioni evacuate

Major bomb alert as 200 evacuated

Two hundred homes have been evacuated as police launch a major operation in north Belfast, which could last overnight.

The security alert was sparked after the Samaritans received a claim that a device was abandoned in the area on Monday night.

PSNI Superintendant Amanda Cooke said police have to take every precaution in such a built-up area.

“This is a major operation – we need to go in and see what we’re dealing with here.

“Experience has shown us that these calls come in and they’re not substantiated. We need to look and see if there’s something here.

“We have experience in this area of secondary devices and other traps being left for police and we need to ensure that everyone is safe when they’re moving in.”

Families are being offered shelter in Ardoyne Community Centre, as the police investigation continues.

Traffic has been disrupted in the area due a number of road closures, including the Oldpark Road, between Manor Street and Oldpark Avenue, the Hillview Road, and Rossapenna Street is closed off from the Roseleigh Street junction. Drivers should avoid the area and use a different route.

The operation comes after a shooting incident in the area.

Sinn Féin’s Gerry Kelly said: “The PSNI have informed us that they have received a coded message from those responsible for this alert. It comes after a shooting incident in the area last night; their descriptions of where the device has been abandoned have thus far been completely vague.

“The organisation responsible for abandoning this device must make clear where they have dumped this bomb in order for the search to be confined to a specific area and to prevent any injury or loss of life.

“I would call on those responsible to stop what they are doing and to stop inflicting this on our people.”

Police believe a number of shots were fired in the Glenview Street area of Oldpark on Monday night.

A PSNI spokesperson said that there were no reports of anyone being injured or of any damage caused to properties.

One eyewitness, who didn’t want to be named, was in the street with his children when the gunman appeared.